ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Thursday said that Pakistan’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict “is and will remain” the same as it was in the past.
He said that there is no change in Pakistan’s policy regarding Israel. The policy is linked to the rights of Palestinians.
Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and believes in a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations (UN) and OIC resolutions as well as international law, with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as the capital city of Palestine.
The foreign minister’s comments come as Israel has increased efforts to stabilize relations with some Muslim nations.
Last week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told reporters that during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he met leaders from several Muslim nations who had not recognized Israel yet.
During a press conference in Islamabad today, the foreign minister was questioned on Pakistan’s relations with Israel. In response, he said that whenever the government decides on the matter, it will keep national interests on priority.
The foreign minister said that both he and the prime minister had clarified this in their addresses at the UNGA.
He said that Palestinians must be given independent state status like that of pre-1967 and Islamabad reiterated this stance in all relevant meetings.
He further said that Palestinians’ matter of right to self-determination is similar to that of Kashmiris. This is basically part of the national interest of Pakistan.
🔴LIVE: Press conference by Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani 28 September 2023 https://t.co/pQVnxJURHL
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 28, 2023
Pakistan’s Afghan policy
Replying to a question about Pakistan’s policy pertaining to Afghanistan amid the surge in cross-border terrorism, the foreign minister said that the government had concerns regarding it and was engaging with Kabul on the issue.
He said that the presence of terrorists and stopping attacks from Afghanistan is the responsibility of the Kabul government as this was its bilateral commitment.
He said that in a recent meeting, there was a commitment that Afghanistan would not be used against Pakistan.
The foreign minister expressed hope that the Afghan government would abide by their commitment and there would not be a repeat of the incidents that were witnessed recently.
