ISLAMABAD: Pakistan military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar has said the army “fully supported” the government’s position on Israel, a local daily reported on Sunday.
Pakistan has been a staunch supporter of demands for a Palestinian state and does not recognize Israel, though officials have maintained covert contacts for decades.
“The stated position of the government of Pakistan on Israel and Palestine is fully supported by the armed forces,” the army’s spokesperson was quoted by The News as saying. He added that unnecessary and unsubstantiated speculation on the subject must be discouraged.
In recent weeks, there has been speculation about foreign pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel, though the Pakistani prime minister and foreign office have categorically rejected the reports.
Earlier this week, on Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his administration would not recognize Israel until there was a just settlement of the Palestinian issue.
In a local media interview this month, PM Khan said Israel’s “deep influence” in the United States was behind pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel — pressure that had become “extraordinary” during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
However, Khan had added: “I have no second thought about recognizing Israel unless there is a just settlement, which satisfies Palestine.”
On November 24, the foreign office said: “Pakistan steadfastly supports the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. For just and lasting peace, it is imperative to have a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions, with the pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State.”
Pakistan army says ‘fully’ supports government’s position on not recognizing Israel
https://arab.news/y4e97
Pakistan army says ‘fully’ supports government’s position on not recognizing Israel
- In recent weeks, there has been speculation about foreign pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel
- PM and foreign office have rejected the reports, saying Pakistan would not acknowledge the Jewish state without a just settlement in Palestine
Pakistan’s top military commander hails Saudi defense pact as ‘historic’ at scholars’ conference
- Asim Munir says Pakistan has a unique bond with the Kingdom, citing the ‘honor’ of helping safeguard the holy sites
- He says only the state can declare jihad, urging religious scholars to counter extremist narratives and promote unity
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday described the country’s joint security pact with Saudi Arabia as a “historic” milestone, telling a gathering of religious scholars that Pakistan and the kingdom share a deep strategic relationship.
Signed in September, the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement has solidified decades of Saudi–Pakistan defense cooperation, covering intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism and regional stability.
The two nations have long coordinated on defense matters, with Pakistani military personnel deployed in the Kingdom.
“The defense agreement [with Saudi Arabia] is historic,” he said in an address to the conference in the federal capital.
The top military commander said Pakistan regarded its connection with the Kingdom as unique.
“Among all Muslim countries, Allah has given Pakistan the honor of helping safeguard the Haramain,” he continued, referring to the two holiest sites of Islam in Makkah and Madinah.
Munir used his speech to warn against extremism, saying that under the Islamic framework, only the state could declare jihad, a pointed reference to groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which claims to act in the name of religion while carrying out attacks on civilians and security forces.
“When nations abandon knowledge and the pen, disorder takes hold,” he said, urging the religious scholars to help keep society unified and to “broaden the nation’s vision.”
Munir also criticized India, describing “terrorism” as “India’s habit, not Pakistan’s.”
His remarks came months after a four-day military confrontation in May, during which the two nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged artillery and missile fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
India blamed Pakistan for a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir before launching a missile attack. Islamabad denied involvement and called for an international probe.
Pakistan claimed it had shot down six Indian fighter jets before a US-brokered ceasefire took effect.
“We do not hide when confronting the enemy,” Munir said. “We challenge openly.”
