ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: Pakistan will most probably participate in the US-sponsored Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis, Maryland on Nov 27, according to diplomatic sources.

Apparently the Foreign Office has proposed that Pakistan should attend the conference which is seen as an attempt by Washington to re-start Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to establish a Palestinian state.

Pakistan will most likely be represented at the conference by caretaker Foreign Minister Inamul Haq, sources told Dawn on Friday, adding that a final decision would be taken at the highest level on Saturday.

In a clear indication that the government was inclined to accept the invite, the Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq while announcing on Wednesday that Pakistan had received the invitation from the US to attend the Conference, noted: “Pakistan welcomes any proposals that would bring peace and stability to the Middle East and could resolve the core issue of Palestine that has caused instability, suffering and conflict in the region for the last several decades.”

Apart from the two main parties — Israel and Palestine — the US has invited 47 other countries, organisations and individuals.—Q.A.