Summary Pakistan reiterated Friday that its position on Israel will not change unless there is progress toward an independent Palestinian state.
WASHINGTON (Dunya News) - Pakistan reiterated Friday that its position on Israel will not change unless there is progress toward an independent Palestinian state, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Speaking at the Pakistani Embassy, Dar said Islamabad remained committed to its long-standing policy on Palestine and the Gaza Strip.
His comments came in response to a question about US President Donald Trump’s call for Muslim countries, including Pakistan, to consider joining the Abraham Accords.
Dar said Pakistan also restated the position during engagements at the UN earlier in the week. He made clear that any shift in the stance toward Israel would depend on the creation of a Palestinian state.
Dar also said the US appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic role in efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Both sides said Dar and Rubio discussed regional security, ties, trade, investment, counter-terrorism and cooperation on Middle East stability.
The foreign minister declined to share details of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, citing confidentiality given that Islamabad was acting as a mediator.
He said Pakistan remained hopeful that its role could help support broader peace efforts in the region.
Dar added that Rubio accepted Pakistan’s proposal for deeper discussions on building a more strategic partnership and agreed to visit Pakistan later this year.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan was playing an active and positive role in promoting peace and stability in the region, while highlighting the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s economy and international standing.
The deputy prime minister said the international community was viewing Pakistan’s mediatory role in the current regional situation in a highly positive manner.
Pakistan is a peace-loving country and is making sincere efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, he said.
Dar stated that Pakistan had played a role in facilitating ceasefire efforts between the United States and Iran by helping create conditions for direct engagement between the two sides.
“The first ceasefire between Washington and Tehran became possible due to Pakistan’s efforts, and the latest truce was also achieved with Islamabad’s facilitation,” he added.
The foreign minister said Pakistan had earned a new identity on the global horizon under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the support of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Foreign Office.
