Islamabad: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, expressing a commitment to utilize multilateral platforms like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to rally collective action for the protection and dignity of Palestinians.
During an interview with the social media platform “Talk Shock,” the prime minister emphasized Pakistan’s longstanding stance on the Palestine issue, reaffirming the nation’s role as a steadfast friend of Palestine. He pledged that Pakistan would continue to provide diplomatic, social, and political support to the Palestinian cause on the global stage.
Prime Minister Kakar underlined the significance of a two-state solution as the key to resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict, which he believed would contribute to stability in the Middle East. He also made it clear that Pakistan did not recognize Israel.
While acknowledging that Palestinians had reached an agreement with Israel regarding a two-state mechanism, he lamented that Israel had consistently denied their rightful claims. He cautioned that without addressing the “Palestine Question,” the risk of radicalization in the region would increase, emphasizing the need to address both the Palestine and Kashmir issues.
Responding to a question regarding Pakistan’s relations with India, Prime Minister Kakar expressed Pakistan’s desire for normal relations with all its neighbors. However, he highlighted the complexity of the India-Pakistan relationship due to the Kashmir issue, stressing that the demands and aspirations of Kashmiris should be met for any normalization process to proceed successfully. He noted that if India did not include Kashmiris in the process, it would be a “non-starter.”
Drawing a comparison between Pakistan’s relations with India and China’s relations with India, the prime minister highlighted the differences in history and dynamics between the two sets of bilateral relations.
Regarding the ICC Cricket World Cup being played in India, Prime Minister Kakar expressed his desire, like all Pakistanis, for the Pakistani cricket team to excel. He pointed out that there were no practical proposals for his visit to India in this regard and emphasized the importance of sports being kept separate from politics. He noted that India should have issued visas to Pakistani fans and journalists. He added that Pakistan would have issued visas to Indians if the World Cup were hosted in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Kakar’s statements underscore Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for the Palestinian cause on the international stage, while also addressing the complexities of regional relations and the importance of sports diplomacy.
