Pakistan will never recognise Israel: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan categorically denied Tuesday that Pakistan would recognise Israel, a few days after the UAE established formal relations with Tel Aviv, stating that Islamabad won't do so until Palestinians are not given their right to a "just settlement".

“Whichever country wants to do it [recognise Israel], our stance is very clear. Our stance was cleared by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1947-48," said PM Imran. "Which was that we will never recognise Israel till the Palestinians do not get their rights."

He said that Pakistan will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel till the Palestinians do not get a separate state of their own, which the people of Palestine accept, based on the Two-Nation Theory.

The premier said that if Pakistan agreed to recognising Israel and gave up its principled stance then it will have to stop raising the issue of Kashmir as the situation in the disputed area was the same.

"Hence, Pakistan cannot recognise Israel," he stated.