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Pakistan not recognizing Israel: PM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Sept 2, IRNA
Pakistan-Israel
Pakistan said in categorical terms on Friday that it was not in the process of recognizing Israel.

Making a policy statement on the issue, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz assured the Lower House of the Parliament that neither there was any change in Pakistan's policy towards Israel nor the government was going to recognize Israel.

There is no question of recognizing Tel Aviv until and unless a sovereign Palestinian state is found as per aspirations of the Palestinians, he made it clear.

Earlier, the Muttahida Majlis-e Amal, a coalition of mainstream six religious-political parties, raised the issue of foreign minister's meeting in the House and later staged walkout. Other opposition parties did not join them.

MMA staged protest demonstrations after Juma prayers in different parts of the country against Kasuri-Shalom meeting.

Referring to much-discussed meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom Thursday, he said that the country took the initiative after Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas requested Islamabad for engagement and using its influence towards the settlement of Palestinian issue.

During Palestinian president's visit three months back to Islamabad, he had sought Pakistan's role vis-a-vis progress towards the settlement of Palestinian issue, Premier Aziz said.

He denied any change in the country's principled on the issue and dded Kasuri told the Israeli official that Pakistan wanted just and peaceful solution of Palestinian question.

Mr. Aziz informed the House that the minister told his Israeli counterpart that lasting peace without the just settlement of Palestinian issue was not possible.

He said that during his recent visit to Turkey, Turkish premier had talked to him and offered his country's services if Islamabad wanted to engage the Zionist regime.

Premier Aziz also said that Pakistan supported the Palestinians stand on the issue and there was no change whatsoever thereon.

He rejected the opposition viewpoint that Islamabad was in the process of according recognition to Tel Aviv, saying there was no truth in that and made it clear even if at any stage Pakistan pondered over the possibility, it would take on board all parties, the Parliament and the cabinet.

Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Premier Aziz said his government backed the inter-faith dialogue to avoid the possibility of clash of civilizations.

He made it clear that lasting peace could be established and global war on terrorism could succeed if Palestinian issue and Kashmir problem were resolved in just manner.

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