THIS is apropos the article ‘Different course’ (Dec 23) which encourages Pakistan and Bangladesh to establish diplomatic ties with Israel because both will reap higher benefits than anything they can get through their ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

It, however, seems to have forgotten to consider a few challenges. Pakistan is not an autocratic state which will be able to quash people’s dissent if the government opts for having ties with the Jewish state.

Israel cannot guarantee a low-profile, friendly India vis-à-vis Pakistan. We lack men, material and industrial complex to reap the fullest benefits from Israel in the economic domain.

India and Israel are not expected to be soft on Kashmir and Palestine issues, even if Pakistan has relations with the Jewish state. Hence, the status quo in foreign relations should be maintained with respect to Israel, or else “choosing dishonour will invite war’, in the words of Winston Churchill.

Muhammad Shah
Khairpur Mir’s

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2021