“Pakistan must balance its unwavering support for Palestine with the pragmatic demands of a changing Middle East, where quiet diplomacy increasingly shapes the contours of foreign policy decisions.”

THE recent flurry of diplomatic shifts in the Middle East, from normalization agreements with Israel to increasing strategic alignments between Arab States and the West, has reignited the debate over Pakistan’s Israel policy. Pakistan’s position on Israel has long been rooted in ideological solidarity with Palestine, framed by its foundational principles and its vocal advocacy for Muslim causes at international forums like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). But the diplomatic terrain is shifting rapidly. The Abraham Accords, the changing posture of key Arab States and the renewed push by the United States and European partners to reshape regional alliances have created both dilemmas and opportunities for countries like Pakistan.

Pakistan’s refusal to recognize Israel is not merely a matter of ideological or religious posturing. It is underpinned by legal, diplomatic and geopolitical considerations. Successive Pakistani governments have held that any recognition of Israel would be premature without a just settlement of the Palestinian question based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of a viable Palestinian State. This position is in line with numerous United Nations resolutions and international law. However, the quiet realignments within the Muslim world have created space for back channel diplomacy and subtle........

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