Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Munir Akram has made it clear that Pakistan will not recognize Israel.
In an interview with VOA, Munir Akram said that the Arab countries which are recognizing Israel as a state have compulsions but Pakistan has to look after its own policy and interests. Some Arab countries have recognized Israel because of their internal and external compulsions.
He said that recognizing Israel would be against the basic principle and Pakistan is not such a weak state that it can be forced to back away from the basic principle. Pakistan cannot deviate from the principled position of supporting the Palestinian right to self-determination.
Munir Akram said that Pakistan is a nuclear power which cannot be forced to change its policy through pressure, recognizing Israel could weaken Pakistan's support on Kashmir.
