News Desk
The Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi denied any pressure on Pakistan to recognise Israel. He said that Pakistan has appraised the United Arab EMirates (UAE) of its position on Israel and stressed that Islamabad will not recognise Tel Aviv until the Palestine issue is resolved.
Talking to media in Multan on Monday, the Foreign Minister has said that the Emirati leadership appraised him of their position during his recent official visit to the UAE.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he briefed them on Israel-Palestine policy and added that Pakistan will not establish ties with Israel until a lasting solution for the conflict is agreed on.
“Islamabad will make decisions in Pakistan’s interests,” he added.
Talking about the matter of visas, he insisted it is a temporary issue which will be resolved soon. He emphasised that the Emirati leadership believes there can be no substitute for Pakistan.
FM Qureshi said that neither does the UAE nor the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia perceive New Delhi as a replacement for Islamabad.
The Minister said that he discussed at length the Kashmir conflict with the UAE and pointed out similarities with the Palestine issue. He exchanged views on the Afghan peace process and appraised UAE on the recent Taliban Political Commission visit to Islamabad.
