ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled stance that it will not recognise Israel until a two-state solution is achieved for the Palestine issue.
Addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, he outlined Pakistan’s recent diplomatic achievements and engagements. Dar emphasised that Pakistan has consistently supported a two-state solution, calling for the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds as its capital.
In response to a question, the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that Pakistan and the United States are actively engaged in discussions on tariffs, expressing optimism that the talks will lead to a mutually beneficial outcome.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan had never asked for a ceasefire nor engaged in a dialogue process with India. However, he added that Pakistan is ready for composite talks with India in a dignified manner on all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
He said it is for the first time that Pakistan’s narrative was accepted and acknowledged at the global level during the standoff with India.
Deputy Prime Minister noted that Iran had commended Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts at both the United Nations Security Council and within the Iranian parliament.
“Things would have been moved forward beyond Iran if that escalation had not been stopped. The condemnation was done over the Israeli attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon during the visit to Istanbul,” Dar.
Dar revealed that following a US attack on Iran, Tehran had assured Pakistan that it was not pursuing nuclear weapons, but could not overlook the aggression.
He also shared details of an important meeting in Istanbul, which took place during a visit by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, which was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and other Turkish leaders to address the situation in Iran.
Replying to another question, he said Pakistan will assume presidency of the United Nations Security Council next month, and a ministerial meeting has been planned in New York on 22nd of next month.
