Islamabad – Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected the media reports that Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that Pakistan was under US pressure to recognize Israel.
PM Khan is reported to have said last week that Israel’s “deep influence” in the United States, is the major cause of pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel. However, Khan said that, “I have no second thought about recognizing Israel unless there is a just settlement, which satisfies Palestine”.
But on Monday, a Middle-east based news agency reported PM’s comments which were taken out of context, and eventually led to a response from the foreign ministry’s office on Tuesday.
Foreign Office said, “The Spokesperson said the Prime Minister had clearly articulated Pakistan’s position that unless a just settlement of the Palestine issue, satisfactory to the Palestinian people, was found, Pakistan could not recognize Israel. The Prime Minister’s remarks are an unequivocal reaffirmation of Pakistan’s position on the subject, leaving no room for baseless speculation”.
Current position of Pakistan is that it does not recognize Israel, however PM Khan wishes to recognize it provided East Jerusalem is declared as Palestine’s capital.
