Pakistan has been consider one of the close ally of Saudi Arabia because of its ideological analogy and Islamic brotherhood. Both the countries have long partnership in different fields of life and Saudi Arabia wields a great influence in Pakistan’s political matters as well.
Saudi monarchy always played a pivotal role in the political affairs of Pakistan and even it has significant say in Pakistan’s foreign policy matters. This is the very reason that Imran Khan dropped Malaysian summit and flew to Saudi Arabia.
Similarly Saudi Arabia enjoys a wide support from the GCC and considered as the prime policy makers of GCC therefore when UAE announced to normalize ties with Israel, a debate has been kicked off about Saudis role in normalization of ties and future countries to follow the UAE footsteps. It has also been predicted that Saudia may would soon recognize Israel leaving Palestinians cause aside. And therefore the question has been raised about Pakistan’s stance on Palestine and joining hands with Israel following Saudi friends.
Though Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has categorically rejected any possibility that Pakistan can establish relations with Israel after it signed a historic deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalise bilateral ties yet some voices are coming out in favor of Israel. For an instance, Kamran Khan, a veteran Pakistani journalist and editor-in-chief of one of the most influential media groups in Pakistan, has asked on Twitter: “Why can’t we openly debate pros cons of opening direct and overt channels of communication with the State of Israel?”
A tweet last October by Ha’aretz English editor Avi Scharf sparked rumors of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visiting Islamabad. In February this year, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv that Pakistan wants “normal ties” with Israel. Given the criticism in Pakistan over Islamabad’s inaction over India’s annexation of Kashmir, the government can actually sell its recognition of Israel as a bid to counter India.
However at the same time if Pakistan recognizes Israel which means declining from its principal stance of self determination of Palestinians, it would have no moral grounds to demand same thing for Kashmiris. The principle of the right of self-determination is therefore vital reason why Pakistan cannot recognize Israel. Pakistan was created on the basis of the two-nation theory and the right of self-determination. Pakistan has fought for the plight of Kashmiris, and their right to self-determination.
Accepting Israel means Pakistan will crush the hopes of Kashmiris that have lived in agony for more than 70 years. Kashmiris are living under a continued lockdown since August 05, 2019, from the Modi government’s abrogation of article 370. The world is silent on Modi’s lockdown, but the Constitution of Pakistan is not. Accepting Israel would mean Pakistan has participated in causing and promoting agony. It would mean Pakistanis have acquiesced to injustices of Israel, India, and elsewhere.
In 1947, Israel’s founder, David Ben Gurion sent a telegram to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in an attempt to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan. The telegram was ignored and to date remains unanswered.
On the basis of these reasons, Pakistan can never recognize Israel. Some Islamic countries have accepted Israel because of government policies and diplomatic compulsions. However, there is still a lot of anger among the people of Pakistan in this regard.