Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said that there "has been no change" in Pakistan's policy about recognition of Israel, and the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel was only to promote Palestinian cause and ensure peace in the Middle East.
In an interview with 'Al Arabiya TV News Channel', conducted by its South and East Asia Bureau chief, Baker Atyani, the Prime Minister said that the meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Israel Silvan Shalom was just an engagement to promote the cause of Palestine, encourage interfaith harmony and work together for the peace in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister said that there had been positive reactions among the people and political forces in Pakistan, except a few politicians.
He said that Pakistan had been supporting the cause of Palestine and working for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel was just to engage Israel towards resolution of the Palestine issue.
Shaukat said that the meeting would also resolve misperceptions and help in explaining Pakistan and Muslim world's point of view to Israel in a better way.
He said that Pakistan wanted to go beyond giving statements on the issue of Palestine. Therefore, the meeting of two foreign ministers was planned.
He said that Pakistan consulted Muslim leaders, and President General Pervez Musharraf talked to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He also talked to Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyep Erdogan before the meeting, he added. Pakistan had informed many other Muslim leaders about the meeting, but the decision about the meeting of two foreign ministers was Pakistan's own, he stressed.
He said recognition of Israel "is linked to the solution of Palestine", and the recent meeting was not aimed at recognising Israel.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan, being an important member of the Muslim Ummah, wanted to play due role in resolving the issue of Palestine.
He said the meeting would only promote the cause of Palestinians, and not meant to recognise Israel. He said that without complete freedom of Palestine and full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Palestinian territory, the question of recognition of Israel could not be discussed.
Shaukat said that Pakistan "has an important position" in the world community, and President Mahmood Abbas of Palestine Authority, during his visit to Pakistan two months ago, had asked President Musharraf to play a role in projecting the cause of Palestine.
The Prime Minister said that PLO President Mahmood Abbas had conveyed the feelings of Palestinians to President General Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan, being an important member of the Muslim Ummah, could play an important role in resolving the Palestine issue.
Shaukat said that besides promoting the cause of Palestine, the meeting between the two foreign ministers would be helpful in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
He said if the meeting would help in resolving the Palestine issue, then Pakistan would continue the contact, otherwise it would work on other options.
He said that it was too early to say what Pakistan could do in resolving the Palestinian problem.
The Prime Minister said there were no short-term gains out of the meeting of the two foreign ministers, but there would be long-term peace in the shape of solution of the Palestine issue.
The Prime Minister said that the engagement was a mature way to handle the issues.
He said the indirect contacts between Pakistan and Israel had started a week before the meeting of the foreign ministers, and it was held with the co-operation of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyep Erdogan.
The Prime Minister said that the two foreign ministers discussed regional issues and Palestinian situation, and it was clarified that Pakistan wanted peace and independent homeland for Palestinians.
Comments
Comments are closed.