Pakistan ruling party says 'will not recognize Israel'

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Pakistan’s ruling party on Sunday said the country will not recognize Israel.

"Pakistan will not recognize Israel until we get a just and fair settlement according to the will of the people of Palestine & the resolutions of the UN," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Twitter.

PTI also shared a song commemorating the "just cause of self-determination, peace and freedom".

The statement comes amid speculations that Pakistan's longtime allies Saudi Arabia and UAE are putting pressure on Islamabad to recognize Israel.

In a separate tweet, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said: "On Int’l Day of solidarity with #Palestinian people, Pakistan reiterates its steadfast supports to Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination."

For just and lasting peace, it is "imperative" to have a two-state solution based on relevant UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions, he said.

"With the pre-1967 borders & Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a viable, independent & contiguous #Palestinian State," Chaudhri added.

Nov. 29 is observed as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People since 1978.