The Crown Prince, Sulaiman Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has expressed his intention to formally recognize Israel, recognizing the futility of the decades-old hostility over the Palestinian issue. Once Saudi Arabia recognizes Israel, it will put pressure on the Pakistan government to reevaluate its stance, as it will be increasingly isolated in its opposition to the growing trend of pragmatism in the Middle East and around the world.
Many countries in the Middle East and beyond, which previously maintained staunch enmity towards Israel over the Palestinian question, have started to soften their positions. They are actively working towards normalizing their relations with Israel. These countries, unlike Pakistan, share borders with Israel and have direct interests and cultural, linguistic, and racial ties with both Israel and the Palestinian people.
The shift towards pragmatism and positivity is driven by several factors, including the recognition of the futility of hostile relations and the economic and financial losses incurred due to Israel’s strong relations with the USA and the Western world. These countries understand that they have the means to influence the policies and thinking of developed countries to safeguard their interests and undermine their adversaries.
Many Muslim and Middle Eastern nations are increasingly prioritizing economic and financial development. They are focused on improving the quality of life for their citizens, enhancing their global standing, and asserting themselves on the international stage. They have come to realize that economic strength provides the resources needed to invest in their human capital, boost their national capabilities, and exert influence on global affairs, including advocating for the Palestinian cause.
The evolving diplomatic landscape in the Middle East and beyond, characterized by the recognition of Israel and the pursuit of economic and financial development, is reshaping the priorities of nations in the region. This shift is driven by a desire to improve their own standing in the world and, paradoxically, may better position them to advocate for the Palestinian cause on the global stage.
Pakistan has had a long-standing position of staunch support for the Palestinian cause and a strong stance against Israel, even though it doesn’t have a direct conflict with Palestine. This stance has been consistently maintained by successive governments, and their rhetoric in favor of Palestine and against Israel has shaped public opinion in Pakistan over the years. However, there may come a point where the government realizes the need to reconsider its position and prepare the public for the possibility of recognizing Israel, especially given the changing dynamics in the Middle East.
While the public sentiment against Israel has been deeply ingrained due to years of government rhetoric, it’s worth noting that Pakistan has had indirect engagements with Israel in the past. During the era of President Pervez Musharraf, there was an attempt at diplomatic engagement between the two countries. I personally witnessed such an effort during my tenure as Deputy Director at PID (Press Information Department). In 2005, while covering President Musharraf’s visit to Quetta, he made a surprising announcement during his address to tribal elders. He mentioned that the Pakistani Foreign Minister was engaged in talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister in Turkey at the same time.
As a young officer, I recognized the significance of this statement and attempted to inform my senior officials about it but couldn’t reach them immediately. In response, I took the initiative to create a headline that read, ‘Pakistan will not recognize Israel until the resolution of the Palestine issue,’ and provided additional details in the ensuing paragraph. This headline served to manage public opinion and prevent an immediate reaction to the explosive statement.
The point here is that even though there have been indirect engagements with Israel in the past, any move towards formal recognition would require a significant shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy, as well as careful management of public sentiment to ensure a smooth transition. The government would need to employ effective communication strategies to explain the rationale behind such a decision and navigate any potential public resistance.
Pakistan’s stance against Israel appears to be self-contradictory when viewed in the context of its foreign policy. It’s worth noting that there are indeed some notable paradoxes in Pakistan’s approach to international relations. Ironically, the Palestinian issue bears a striking resemblance to the Kashmir issue; both involve the desire for self-determination. Palestinians seek emancipation from Israeli occupation, while Kashmiris aspire to freedom from India’s rule. Yet, Pakistan maintains full diplomatic relations with India, engaging in both formal and informal channels of communication, even during challenging times, to advocate for its stated position on Kashmir.
India and Israel have established a robust defense partnership, characterized by the supply of advanced military technology, including missile defense systems and surveillance equipment from Israel. This sensitive surveillance and antiterrorism technology acquired by India is blatantly used in Kashmir to maintain control over the region. This has raised concerns about its impact on the Kashmiri population and their aspirations for self-determination. Pakistan faces challenges in acquiring similar technology to effectively counter terrorism from its own soil and lacks the influence to prevent Israel from providing such technology to India for use in Kashmir.
Interestingly, Pakistan has no direct border or conflict with Israel. Its opposition to Israel primarily revolves around the Palestinian issue, making its stance seem disproportionate and lacking regional or international implications. In contrast, neighboring countries with Israel, despite facing complex issues such as territorial, religious, ethnic, water-related, and social and cultural conflicts, are either recognizing Israel willingly or succumbing to pressure from the United States and the Western world.
Given these contradictions, Pakistan’s approach to Israel should align more closely with its stance on India or even adopt a more pragmatic and balanced approach in the interest of regional stability and international diplomacy.
In this backdrop, the policy statement by our caretaker foreign minister in the USA carries a much softer position. Instead of repeating the same senseless, public pressure driven statement, he said that the decision of Pakistan to recognize Israel will be based upon the interests of the Pakistani and Palestinian people.
The recognition of Israel is a complex and sensitive issue with both potential benefits and drawbacks. Such decisions in international relations are influenced by a multitude of factors, including political, economic, social, and strategic considerations. For Pakistan, there are compelling reasons to consider recognizing Israel due to the potential gains.
Recognition of Israel could lead to enhanced diplomatic relations not only with Israel but also with countries that have already recognized Israel. This could open up new avenues for diplomacy and cooperation across various sectors.
Israel’s strong track record of innovation and entrepreneurship offers opportunities for collaboration in research and development, benefiting Pakistan’s technology and innovation sectors and may attract Israeli investments in Pakistan, which could stimulate various industries and create jobs. Israel frequently engages in technology transfer agreements with other countries, allowing them to access Israeli innovations across sectors such as cybersecurity, agriculture, and biotechnology. It participates in joint research projects with universities, research institutions, and companies worldwide, spanning fields from medical research to renewable energy and artificial intelligence. Its universities and research institutions host international students and researchers, facilitating academic exchange programs and knowledge sharing.
It has established innovation hubs in various countries to promote collaboration, connecting Israeli startups and businesses with foreign partners and investors. Israel’s highly skilled workforce in science and technology fields contributes to global R&D efforts through their involvement in international projects and breakthroughs. Israel, a global leader in cybersecurity, collaborates with other countries to enhance cybersecurity capabilities, sharing threat intelligence and best practices to bolster global cybersecurity efforts. Its expertise in agricultural technology, particularly in arid and desert farming, is shared with countries facing similar agricultural challenges, leading to the adoption of innovative practices.
While there are numerous potential benefits, drawbacks may include public backlash due to the emotionally charged nature of the issue for many Pakistanis. Careful management of public sentiment, dialogue, and addressing religious and cultural sensitivities would be essential.
The decision to recognize Israel is multifaceted and requires consideration of foreign policy objectives, regional dynamics, and domestic sentiments. Pakistan’s government would need to engage in extensive diplomatic efforts and communication with its citizens to explain the rationale and potential benefits.
With a growing trend toward recognizing Israel in the Muslim world, Pakistan should carefully assess the opportunities for tapping into Israeli potential and contributing to global research and development efforts while safeguarding its national interests and the well-being of its people.