By Prof. Dr. Taimoor ul Hassan
For decades, the question of recognition of Israel has tested the diplomatic temperament of the Muslim world. At the heart of this debate stands the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the collective voice of over fifty Muslim-majority states, and within it, Pakistan has consistently maintained a principled position grounded in support for the Palestinian cause. Despite global shifts, regional alignments, and evolving backchannel engagements, Pakistan’s official stance on Israel has remained remarkably steadfast: no recognition without a just and equitable resolution of the Palestinian issue.
Pakistan’s position on Israel is not a product of recent diplomatic pressures but rather a continuity of its foundational foreign policy. Since 1947, Pakistan has aligned itself with the principle of self-determination for all oppressed peoples, and the Palestinians occupy a central place in that worldview. The state has always upheld United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions regarding Palestinian rights, including the call for a sovereign state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
While many countries in the Middle East, including some members of the OIC, have opted for normalization with Israel over the past decade—such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan under the Abraham Accords framework—Pakistan has refused to follow suit. This choice is not based on diplomatic rigidity, but on a moral commitment to a cause long seen as one of justice, dignity, and international legality.
That said, diplomatic engagement, especially through quiet diplomacy and non-official channels, has not been completely absent from Pakistan-Israel dynamics. One of the most notable moments in this context occurred in 2005, when Pakistan’s then-Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, met his Israeli counterpart, Silvan Shalom, in Istanbul, while late Gen. Musharraf was heading the state. The meeting, facilitated by Turkey, was historic in that it marked the first publicly acknowledged contact at the ministerial level between the two countries. The message conveyed was nuanced: Pakistan was willing to engage, but recognition would only follow a solution to the Palestine issue.
Kasuri’s visit was not a signal of an imminent diplomatic shift, but a pragmatic outreach to keep communication lines open amid a changing geopolitical context. At the time, Israel had disengaged from Gaza, and there was renewed hope for peace in the region. Pakistan’s leadership, however, made it clear domestically and internationally that the Istanbul meeting did not signal recognition of Israel but was a reflection of engagement based on evolving international conversations. The interaction was carefully framed as an exploratory dialogue, and not a prelude to normalization.
Over the years, Pakistan has been approached, directly and indirectly, through friendly states and third-party channels, to review its position. The arguments often include the promise of technological cooperation, intelligence sharing, and enhanced trade. However, successive Pakistani governments, regardless of political ideology, have held to the same core principle: that normalization without justice would be premature and morally untenable.
Within the OIC, Pakistan has continued to play a constructive role in ensuring that the Palestinian issue remains central to the organization’s agenda. Despite internal fractures and differing national interests within the OIC member states, Islamabad has consistently pushed for consensus statements condemning settlement expansion, human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank, and unilateral actions such as the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the United States in 2017. Pakistan has also used its seat on international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council, to raise concerns over the humanitarian situation in occupied territories.
It is important to view Pakistan’s position not as diplomatic isolation, but as a principled stand amid rapidly shifting sands. Pakistan recognizes the geopolitical changes in the Middle East, including the recalibrations taking place in the Gulf and beyond. Yet it maintains that any bilateral or multilateral engagements with Israel must be preceded by tangible progress on the Palestinian question. This position not only aligns with the aspirations of Pakistan’s people but also reflects the sentiments of a large portion of the Muslim world that remains sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership, including the current government, have repeatedly clarified that no change in policy regarding Israel is under consideration. Whenever questions surface—especially after normalization waves in the Gulf—the Foreign Office has reiterated that the country’s policy remains unchanged. Such consistency is noteworthy, especially in an era where political expediency often drives foreign policy adjustments.
The role of public opinion in Pakistan cannot be underestimated. A strong majority of Pakistanis remain emotionally and ideologically aligned with the Palestinian people. Religious, cultural, and historical factors contribute to this affinity. Consequently, any government considering a rethinking of policy would face significant scrutiny from civil society, religious scholars, and political parties alike. This makes the state’s current posture not only a matter of foreign policy but also a domestic consensus issue.
From time to time, speculative reports emerge in international media about informal contacts or exploratory talks between Israeli and Pakistani individuals, often facilitated through third-party channels. While such contacts, if any, remain unofficial and low-level, they do not reflect a deviation from Pakistan’s policy. Many countries, including those without formal ties, maintain occasional informal dialogues to understand each other’s perspectives. Pakistan’s measured engagement, when it occurs, is governed by its diplomatic ethos and guided by national interest without compromising on principles.
The future of Pakistan-Israel relations, therefore, remains tied not to transient pressures but to substantive developments in the Middle East. If a just and internationally accepted two-state solution is achieved—one that secures the rights, dignity, and territorial sovereignty of the Palestinian people—Pakistan may reevaluate its position, as it has indicated in the past. Until then, the nation remains committed to its stance, even as it navigates complex global expectations.
In a world where alliances are fluid, and ideological lines are often blurred by realpolitik, Pakistan’s consistent position on Israel stands out. It reflects a deep-seated national consensus, a moral compass rooted in historical struggles, and a principled diplomacy that values justice over opportunism. As the OIC continues to balance its internal divisions and external engagements, Pakistan’s voice remains a steady reminder of the cause that originally inspired the organization’s creation: the protection of Muslim interests with Palestine at the heart of that vision.
About the Author:
Prof. Dr. Taimoor ul Hassan is a senior academic and expert in mass communication. He has served as Dean and Professor at leading Pakistani universities and is widely published in areas of media policy, international relations, and strategic communication.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk.
