Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Syed Faisal Saleh Hayyat has said the policy of engagement with Israel would ultimately produce much needed dividends for the Middle East, South Asia and Pakistan itself.
The Palestinian leadership was also engaged with Israel and that policy of engagement would ultimately lead towards a settlement, the Minister said while speaking at a programme telecast by a private television channel on Wednesday.
The Minister said there was no question of Pakistan recognising Israel until and unless an independent Palestinian state was established, and Al-Quds was given its due status, and added that was the very clear policy of Pakistan.
To a question, he said the contemporary world was confronting two major issues namely the Kashmir and Palestine, adding those issues would have direct impact on the global peace.
The Minister said President Musharraf had rightly said that until and unless both issues were addressed in a manner that was acceptable to the stakeholders "we cannot expect any stability and peace at world scenario."
At the same time, the President has also emphasised in very strong words on Israel that Al-Quds had a special place in the hearts of not only the Palestinians but also every Muslim in the world, the Minister added.
That was the background in which Pakistan had now gone ahead and taken an initiative, the Minister said, adding it had by no means abdicated its principle stand on the issue of Palestine.