ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Tuesday responded to reports of a group of Pakistani journalists traveling to Israel, saying it was not “possible” under the existing rules.
Israel Hayom, a Hebrew-language Israeli newspaper, last week published a report that a 10-member Pakistani delegation of journalists, intellectuals and influencers had visited Israel for a week.
English-language Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post said this week these Pakistanis visited Israel to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently called for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and pre-1967 borders.
“The Government of Pakistan has noted reports regarding Pakistani journalists traveling to Israel. In this regard, it is clarified that Pakistani passports explicitly state they are ‘not valid for travel to Israel’,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said in response to media queries.
“Therefore, no such visit is possible under existing regulations.”
The Hayom newspaper report said the ten Pakistani journalists and researchers, including two women, arrived in Israel this month and carried passports declaring their invalidity for travel to Israel.
“Despite this, they bravely accepted an invitation from Sharaka, an organization working to strengthen relations between Israel and South Asian countries,” the report said. “To protect the delegation members, their passports were not stamped, and publication of their visit was delayed until they returned safely home.”
However, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said Pakistan’s position on Israel “remains unchanged.”
“Pakistan does not recognize Israel and steadfastly supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders,” it said.
The South Asian country has consistently called for a cessation of Israeli military campaign in Gaza and strongly condemned the resumption of Israeli strikes in the territory last Tuesday, saying they could fully reignite the 17-month-old war that has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.
Islamabad has also dispatched more than two dozen aid consignments for the Palestinian people since Israel began pounding Gaza in Oct. 2023.
“Pakistan reiterates its unwavering commitment to a just and peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Palestinian people,” the Pakistani Foreign Office added.
Pakistani journalists’ visit to Israel not ‘possible’ under existing rules, Islamabad says
https://arab.news/m6w64
Pakistani journalists’ visit to Israel not ‘possible’ under existing rules, Islamabad says
- Israeli media reported a 10-member Pakistani delegation this month visited Israel for a week
- Islamabad says its position on Israel ‘remain unchanged,’ reiterates its support for Palestine
Pakistan, US discuss boosting anti-narcotics cooperation, pledge stronger ties
- Mohsin Naqvi highlights Pakistan’s ‘zero-tolerance policy,’ says National Narcotics Coordination Center to be set up soon
- ANF operations this year led to seizure of 134 tons of drugs, arrests of over 2,000 suspects, including 75 foreign nationals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States vowed to strengthen bilateral ties with a special focus on anti-narcotics cooperation during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and acting US ambassador Natalie Baker on Saturday, said an official statement.
The talks covered intelligence sharing, joint efforts to curb drug trafficking and measures to prevent illegal immigration.
Pakistani officials also briefed the meeting on recent operations by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and plans to modernize screening and enforcement at airports.
“We are strictly implementing a zero-tolerance policy on narcotics,” Naqvi said, according to the Interior Ministry.
“Airports are being equipped with the most advanced scanning machines, and detecting drug smuggling at every possible stage is our top priority,” he continued, adding that drugs originating from Afghanistan were reaching dozens of countries and “destroying the younger generation.”
Naqvi said Pakistan would welcome US technical assistance for counter-narcotics efforts and confirmed that a National Narcotics Coordination Center would be established soon.
The statement said Baker offered US support for Pakistan’s work to combat narcotics and prevent illegal immigration, saying Washington attached “special importance” to its relationship with Pakistan and would continue cooperation across sectors.
During the meeting, Pakistani officials presented a detailed briefing on ANF operations, noting that under the annual counter-narcotics campaign, 134 tons of drugs had been seized, 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreign national, arrested and narcotics worth $12.797 billion confiscated.
Authorities also reported arresting 110 Afghan nationals in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, clearing 40,659 acres of poppy cultivation and maintaining poppy-free status in several regions.
Naqvi said Pakistan regarded ties with the US as important for promoting regional peace and stability and remained committed to strengthening long-standing bilateral relations.
The meeting was also attended by the interior secretary, the ANF director general, the director of enforcement and officials from the US embassy.
