Pakistan sets out conditions for recognizing Israel
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Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has emphasized that Pakistan's decision regarding the establishment of relations with Israel will be made after carefully considering both Pakistan's national interests and the interests of the Palestinian people. This statement was made in response to remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who discussed the normalization of Israel's relations with Muslim-majority countries.
According to Israeli media outlet Kan News, Cohen suggested that "six or seven" Islamic nations were likely to normalize ties with Israel, particularly after Saudi Arabia's potential inclusion in the Abraham Accords. This agreement had already seen the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Cohen also claimed to have engaged with leaders from several Muslim countries that have not yet recognized Israel.
Jalil, in response to Cohen's assertion, clarified that the Israeli Foreign Minister has not held any recent meetings with Pakistani officials. This highlights that Pakistan has not taken any definitive steps toward normalizing relations with Israel in the near term.
It is worth noting that in 2005, during the tenure of former President General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's then-foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri met with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul, Turkey. This historical context demonstrates that the issue of diplomatic relations with Israel is not new to Pakistan's foreign policy discussions.
In conclusion, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani's statement underscores Pakistan's cautious approach to the prospect of establishing relations with Israel, emphasizing the importance of considering both national interests and the rights of the Palestinian people. Despite recent developments in the region, there have been no official meetings between Pakistani officials and Israeli counterparts, indicating that the decision remains a matter of careful deliberation for Pakistan's foreign policy.
