FO says nothing to do with expats’ visit to Israel

Spokesperson reiterates Islamabad’s position on the Palestinian issue

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Sunday categorically rejected the notion that any delegation from the country visited Israel, stressing that Islamabad’s position on the Palestinian issue was “clear and unambiguous” and there was no change whatsoever “in our policy” towards the Jewish state.

Responding to media queries regarding Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s talks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on May 26, in which he said he met a Pakistan delegation, the Foreign Office said that the visit was organised by a foreign NGO, which was not based in Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s position on the Palestinian issue is clear and unambiguous. There is no change whatsoever in our policy on which there is complete national consensus. Pakistan steadfastly supports the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

🔴 Depuis le Forum économique de @Davos le Président de l'État d'Israël @Isaac_Herzog révèle s'être entretenu avec des délégations du Pakistan 🇵🇰 et d'autres délégations de pays musulmans de cette région. Israël n'entretient aucune relation diplomatique avec le Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/2kGpFuR5L6

— Jonathan Serero (@sererojonathan) May 25, 2022

“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 the relevant UN and OIC resolutions, is imperative for just and lasting peace in the region,” the statement added.

Herzog, while speaking about ‘The Abraham Accords’, brokered by the US in 2020, had said in Davos that he met a delegation from South Asia in Israel that included two Pakistani American citizens. He did not reveal the identities of the members of that delegation.

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He said that he received a delegation of Pakistani expatriates, who lived in the US “together with other members of other countries in their region”, adding: “And I must say this was an amazing experience, we haven’t had a group of Pakistani leaders in Israel in such scope.”

An Israeli media outlet, Haaretz, reported that a 15 member delegation, led by two civil society groups, visited Israel in order to promote interfaith harmony primarily between Muslims and Jews. The trip was organised by the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Council and an NGO called Sharaka.

American-Pakistanis, a British Pakistani, a Pakistani journalist Ahmed Qureshi and Pakistani Jew Fischel BenKhald were part of that delegation, the report said, adding that Qureshi and BenKhald entered Israel on their Pakistani passports, making it the first-ever trip of its kind.

The delegation, led by Anila Ali – the founder of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women Empowerment Council – also made a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaust memorial centre, to show solidarity with its victims, Haaretz said.

I’m honored to be the first Pakistani & American to present a book, an eyewitness account of the #Pakistan movement written by my father, Qutubuddin Aziz, to the President of Israel, @Isaac_Herzog. The president’s warmth & grace humbled me. @ammwecofficial @sharakango pic.twitter.com/TY6qe2xRYX

— Anila Ali (@anilaali) May 12, 2022

Meanwhile, Anila shared a photograph on Twitter of her meeting the Israeli president on May 12. In the photograph, she is presenting a book written by her father Qutbuddin Ahmed on the Pakistan Movement and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the Israeli president.

Shocking to see @_AhmedQuraishi in Israel bec he not only works for PTV but closely linked to State institution of sensitive nature. For over a year he has been pushing a pro-Israeli agenda & targeted IK's indep FP! This seems to be part of the US regime change conspiracy agenda. https://t.co/w2g18cxFIC

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 11, 2022

Besides, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari expressed her “shock” at the inclusion of PTV anchor Waqar Qureshi in the delegation. In response, Qureshi also took to Twitter and cited former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri’s first “official” meeting with Israeli foreign minister in Turkey.

During a rally in Charsadda, former prime minister Imran Khan said that “slaves of the US” in the government would do everything that had been ordered to them. Lashing out at the government, he alleged that it would strike a deal with India at the expense of Kashmiris and also recognise Israel.

Dr. Shireen Mazari, today's self-appointed top #PTI anti-#Israel crusader, was DG ISSI in 2005 when her boss, then FM Kasuri, held first official #Pakistan-#Israel meeting in #Turkey, after which Israel waived import license requirement for 🇵🇰; saved her job by not objecting. /1 https://t.co/7CwScv60l7 pic.twitter.com/5yKUgaeHwZ

— Ahmed Quraishi (@_AhmedQuraishi) May 15, 2022

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said that no official or semi-official delegation from Pakistan had visited Israel. “The participants in this delegation were Pakistani-Americans who have already explained themselves,” he stated. Iqbal reiterated that Pakistan did not recognise Israel.

 

 

(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)