Protection Minister Khawaja Asif mentioned on Wednesday that recognition of Israel by Pakistan was “not on the playing cards in any respect” as he highlighted the nation’s assist for the Palestinian trigger.
The minister made the remarks in an interview with France 24. The feedback come because the inaugural assembly of the Board of Peace, led by US President Donald Trump, might be held in Washington on February 19. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar might be attending the assembly.
Within the interview, Asif was requested about Pakistan’s determination to hitch the Board of Peace and if the nation would contribute troops for a army drive in Gaza.
“I do not see any downside in that. All of it will depend on what kind of phrases of reference are drafted for that peace drive,” he mentioned, highlighting that Pakistan was part of UN peacekeeping missions.
“So we have now that have. Palestine is a trigger that may be very near our hearts. We have now been demonstrating solidarity with them for a lot of, many, many a long time,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that Pakistan had supported the reason for Palestine on numerous worldwide boards.
“So that is one thing price trying. It is a good alternative. Let’s hope it brings us nearer to the two-state answer within the Center East,” he mentioned.
The interviewer then identified that many Muslim international locations had normalized ties with Israel and requested whether or not this was on the desk for Pakistan.
“No, not but. , I don’t see this feature even being thought of by Pakistan. Possibly, sooner or later, when there’s a whole paradigm shift and two states are established and Palestinians have the correct of self-determination, their very own homeland,” he mentioned.
“For the time being, it isn’t on the playing cards in any respect,” he mentioned.
‘India waging proxy battle’
The minister was then requested concerning the safety state of affairs within the nation, together with the attack at an Imambargah in Islamabad.
In response, Asif said that there were almost “all franchises of terrorism” in neighboring Afghanistan, which he attributed to the “non-seriousness” of the Afghan Taliban government. He said that the Afghan Taliban was providing terrorists safe haven on their soil.
“Nothing can happen from across the border from Afghanistan … any attack in Pakistan, it has the blessings of the Afghan government,” he said.
Asked about Pakistan’s strikes in Afghanistan, the minister said, “We always have that option and we can exercise that option. We won’t hesitate.”
He further said that if terrorist outfits were operating from Afghan soil, the responsibility lay with Kabul’s rulers.
Asked about India, the minister highlighted the military conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
“Our air force practically decimated whatever attempt they were making to invade Pakistan. So now they are waging a proxy war against Pakistan,” he said.
“Delhi and Kabul and all these terrorist outfits are on the same page,” he said.
He said that friendly countries had attempted to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul but “these attempts did not produce any results”.
He said that the Afghan Taliban had accepted that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was operating from their territory.
“They indirectly said that they had no control over them. We told them that allow us to deal with them… They accepted their responsibility verbally, but whatever we agreed upon… They are not ready to give it in writing,” he said.
