ISLAMABAD/DAVOS: Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) categorically rejected the notion of any delegation from Pakistan visiting Israel on Sunday.
The FO statement came after local media reported that Israel President Isaac Herzog had an “amazing experience” meeting a delegation of Pakistani expatriates living in the United States.
In response to media inquiries, the FO spokesperson stated that the alleged visit was organized by a foreign NGO that is not based in Pakistan. According to the spokesperson, Pakistan’s position on the Palestinian issue is clear and unambiguous, and there has been no change in Islamabad’s policy, on which there is a complete national consensus.
The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. According to the spokesperson, the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with relevant UN and OIC resolutions, is essential for just and lasting peace in the region.
According to media reports, Netanyahu spoke on Thursday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, about the Abraham Accords, a US-backed deal that resulted in the normalization of Israel’s relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
After the Abraham Accords were signed in August 2020, Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated unequivocally that it would not recognize Israel. “A two-state solution in accordance with 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,” the Foreign Office stated.
However, Herzog stated that the Abraham Accords were yielding at all levels of life and were not limited to mere visits.
In response to a question from WEF President Berg Brende, Herzog stated, “I’ll tell you, you know, we’re seeing it at all levels of life.” We’re not talking about casual visits here. We’re seeing interest at all economic, scientific, and innovation levels, but I’ll tell you about my personal feelings later.”
Herzog told the WEF president that he met two delegations last week — Moroccans and Pakistanis — who demonstrated the “great change” brought about by the Abraham Accords.
“One was a delegation of Moroccan young opinion leaders who had joined forces with an Israeli NGO on Facebook.” They both came and sat with us for an hour, and it was incredible to hear their stories of breaking down barriers, moving forward, and intertwining.”
A day after meeting the Moroccan delegation, Israel’s president said he met with a group of “proud” Pakistani expatriates living in America, who live alongside people from other countries in their region.
“And I must say that this was an incredible experience because we have never had such a large group of Pakistani leaders in Israel, and it all stems from the Abraham Accords, which means Jews and Muslims can coexist in the region.”
Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives stated that no official or semi-official delegation from Pakistan met with Israeli President Shimon Peres. “The delegation’s participants were Pakistani-Americans who have already provided an explanation,” the planning minister said in a tweet.
Iqbal stated that the Pakistani government’s policy is clear: it does not recognize the state of Israel. “All of our sympathies are with our Palestinian brothers and sisters.” In response to the Israeli president’s statement, ex-human rights minister Shireen Mazari accused the current government of complying with US demands.
“Another commitment made to the United States under the regime change conspiracy by an imported government and other co-conspirators has been fulfilled!” “Shameful subservience!” exclaimed the former federal minister. However, in a May 18 interview on Geo News’ Aapas kee Baat, Pakistani Journalist Ahmad Quraishi informed the show’s anchor Muneeb Farooq that, for the first time in 75 years, Pakistan issued a passport to a Pakistani Jew, allowing him to mention his religion and allowing him to visit the holy sites in Israel. The passport was issued by the Imran Khan government, according to Quraishi, and this Pakistani Jew was part of the Pakistani-American delegation visiting Israel.
