Pakistan army says ‘fully’ supports government’s position on not recognizing Israel

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.”