ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri on Tuesday categorically rejected baseless speculations regarding possibility of recognition of Israel by Pakistan.

In reply to media queries about the issue, the spokesperson said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statements in that context were clear and unequivocal.

He said the prime minister had made it clear that unless a just settlement of the Palestine issue, satisfactory to the Palestinian people, was found Pakistan could not recognise Israel.

“Pakistan steadfastly supports the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. For just and lasting peace, it is imperative to have a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions, with the pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State,” the FO spokesperson said.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2020