ISLAMABAD – There have never been formal diplomatic relations between thetwo countries, with Pakistan siding with the Palestinians and demandingthat there must be a homeland for them. However, since Imran Khan tookoffice, speculation that Islamabad could recognise the Jewish state hasgrown stronger.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has brushed aside speculation about adiplomatic shift towards Israel, including recognition of the Jewish statelink,the Middle East Eye reports. Asked about the rumours, which were sparkedfollowing recent debates in the Pakistani media, at the Asian Society inNew York, which Khan flew to for the United Nations General Assembly, thePakistani PM reassured the audience that Islamabad’s position on the issuehas not changed since the foundation of Pakistan.
“Pakistan has a very straightforward position. It was our founder ofPakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was very clear that there hasto be just settlement, a homeland for Palestinians before Pakistan canrecognise Israel”, Khan said, as cited by the web-outlet.
The debates about forging formal diplomatic ties between the two nationswere fuelled by Kamran Khan, the head of the powerful Pakistani holdingDunya Media Group, who suggested debating such a possibility on Twitter.
“Why can’t we openly debate pros cons of opening direct and overt channelsof communication with the State of Israel”, he posted, also pointing to theescalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Later, the country’s Defence Ministrylinkcommentedon the matter, denying any change of course.
“As far as my visibility goes, nothing of the sort is happening. But thisis a question related to the Foreign Office”, a spokesperson said,redirecting the topic to the Foreign Ministry, which, however, has remainedtight-lipped on the matter.
The speculation about Pakistan’s potential shift towards Israel wereprompted by a report from October 2018, two months after Khan assumed theprime ministership, that an Israeli jet, carrying the Israeli primeminister, had landed in the Pakistani capital and stayed there for 10 hours.