Outline
I. Introduction: The Enduring Conflict and Pakistan's Principled Stance
A. Global Significance of the Israel-Palestine Conflict
B. Pakistan's Historical Position
1. Foundation in Ideology (Quaid-e-Azam's stance)
2. Consistent Non-Recognition of Israel (Passport inscription)
3. Solidarity with the Muslim Ummah
C. Thesis Statement
II. Historical Context of Pakistan's Engagement with the Israel-Palestine Conflict
A. Early Years (1947-1960s): The Genesis of Solidarity and Diplomatic Advocacy
1. Opposition to UN Partition Plan (1947)
2. Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan's Role at UN and Bandung
B. Involvement in Arab-Israeli Wars (1967, 1973): Symbolic Military Solidarity
1. Pakistani Pilots (Saiful Azam)
2. Training of PLO Officers
C. Post-Cold War Era & Shifting Dynamics (1990s-2000s): Navigating a Changing Middle East
1. Impact of Oslo Accords
2. Pervez Musharraf Era Discussions and domestic opposition
D. Recent Decades (2010s-Present, specifically 2023-2025): Unwavering Condemnation Amidst Intensified Escalations
III. Pakistan's Foreign Policy Principles Guiding its Stance
A. Islamic Solidarity (Pan-Islamism): The Spiritual and Emotional Core
1. Religious and Cultural Affinity (Al-Quds Al-Sharif)
2. Role within OIC
B. Adherence to International Law and UN Resolutions: The Legal Framework
1. Right to Self-Determination
2. Condemnation of Occupation and Settlements (Fourth Geneva Convention, UNSC Res. 242, 338, 497, 2334)
3. Respect for International Humanitarian Law
C. Human Rights Advocacy: The Moral Imperative
D. Non-Interference and Peaceful Resolution: The Diplomatic Stance
E. Link to Kashmir Dispute (Implicit/Explicit): A Shared Narrative of Self-Determination
IV. Constraints and Challenges Limiting Pakistan's Direct Role
A. Non-Recognition of Israel: The Diplomatic Impasse
B. Domestic Political Landscape and Overwhelming Public Sentiment
C. Economic Vulnerabilities and Geopolitical Dependencies (Abraham Accords, IMF)
D. Limited Diplomatic Clout in Global Power Dynamics
E. Internal Instability and Overwhelming Focus on Domestic Issues
F. The Indian Factor and Regional Geopolitics (Indo-Israeli ties)
V. Potential Avenues for Pakistan to Play a Significant Role
A. Enhanced Diplomatic Advocacy in International Forums: Amplifying the Voice of Justice
1. United Nations (UN)
a. General Assembly (UNGA)
b. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) (April 2024 resolution)
c. International Court of Justice (ICJ) (2022 UNGA request, Nov 2023 submission, Jan 2024 ruling)
d. Security Council (UNSC) (2025-2026 non-permanent membership, July 2025 presidency)
2. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
a. Strengthening OIC's Cohesion and Effectiveness (51st CFM June 2025)
b. Championing Implementation of OIC Resolutions
B. Humanitarian Assistance: Practical Solidarity
1. Sustained Direct Aid to Palestinians (14 consignments by June 2025)
2. Advocacy for Unhindered Aid Access
C. Public Diplomacy and Awareness: Shaping Global Narratives
1. Countering Misinformation and Narrative Building
2. Engagement with International Civil Society
3. Diaspora Engagement
D. Leveraging Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Diplomatic Reach
1. China
2. Turkey and Iran
3. Russia
E. Economic Diplomacy (Cautious and Principled Approach)
1. Promoting Trade with Palestine
2. Selective Economic Pressure Advocacy (Long-term & Coordinated)
F. Promoting Interfaith Dialogue: Building Bridges of Understanding
VI. The Way Forward: Recommendations for Pakistan's Enhanced Role
A. Pragmatic Idealism: Balancing Principles with Realism
B. Strengthening Internal Consensus and Expertise: A United and Informed Front
C. Coordinated Muslim World Strategy: Translating Rhetoric into Action
D. Focus on Accountability and Legal Avenues: Pursuing Justice Through Law
E. Continuous and Targeted Humanitarian Support: Practical Empathy
F. Multilateralism and Strategic Outreach: Broadening International Consensus
VII. Conclusion
I. Introduction: The Enduring Conflict and Pakistan's Principled Stance
The Israel-Palestine conflict, enduring for over seven decades, stands as one of the most complex, emotive, and intractable geopolitical challenges on the global stage. Its origins are deeply interwoven with competing historical narratives, religious sanctity, and questions of territory, identity, and self-determination. The conflict’s persistent nature and recurrent escalations, most recently highlighted by the devastating events since October 2023 in Gaza and the West Bank, continue to reverberate far beyond the Levant, impacting regional stability, influencing global power dynamics, fostering radicalization, and fundamentally testing the international rules-based order, including the efficacy of international law and institutions. For students of International Relations, it represents a quintessential case study of post-colonial territorial disputes, exacerbated by complex demographic shifts, religious fervour, Cold War proxy politics, and the profound challenges of nation-building.
Within this tumultuous and highly sensitive global landscape, Pakistan has, since its inception, maintained a distinct and unyielding position, characterized by its unwavering and unequivocal support for the Palestinian cause. This stance is not merely a transient diplomatic posture or a matter of convenience; instead, it is profoundly embedded in the ideological foundations and the collective national psyche of Pakistan. The very genesis of Pakistan in 1947 as a sovereign, Muslim-majority state, born out of a momentous struggle for self-determination against colonial rule, inherently aligned its aspirations with those of the Palestinian people, who were simultaneously confronting challenges of displacement, territorial rights, and the pursuit of their own independent statehood.
The visionary founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, articulated this fundamental solidarity even prior to Pakistan’s birth. He steadfastly and vociferously condemned the infamous Balfour Declaration of 1917, which unilaterally promised a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, viewing it as a profound injustice to the indigenous Arab population. Jinnah consistently championed the inherent rights of the Palestinians, acutely recognizing the immense spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) for Muslims across the globe. His powerful and morally resonant statements laid the indelible bedrock for Pakistan's principled foreign policy, emphasizing the paramount values of justice, self-determination, adherence to international law, and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.
A cornerstone, perhaps the most defining feature, of Pakistan's consistent position has been its steadfast non-recognition of the State of Israel. This policy, a distinctive characteristic among many Muslim nations, is explicitly emblazoned on Pakistani passports, which bear the definitive inscription: "This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel." This diplomatic isolation of Israel by Pakistan is not absolute. Still, it remains unequivocally contingent upon the establishment of a fully independent, sovereign, and geographically contiguous Palestinian state, based on the internationally recognized pre-1967 border, with East Jerusalem designated as its rightful capital. This enduring policy reflects not only a principled stand against territorial occupation and historical injustice but also embodies a deep-seated commitment to pan-Islamic solidarity. Pakistan profoundly views the Palestinian struggle as an indivisible collective Muslim issue, inextricably linked with the broader concerns of the Muslim Ummah (global community) and formally enshrined within the charter and spirit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), of which Pakistan is not merely a member but a prominent and active voice.
Therefore, this article posits that despite facing significant geopolitical, economic, and domestic challenges, including its unique non-recognition of Israel, internal political considerations, economic vulnerabilities, and the increasingly complex and shifting dynamics within the broader Muslim world (particularly in the wake of the Abraham Accords and the recent intensely volatile period of 2023-2025)-Pakistan possesses unique attributes and leverages. Through the judicious application of these, it can, and indeed does, play a more meaningful, constructive, and impactful, albeit primarily indirect, role in advocating for a just, lasting, and comprehensive resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. This significant role is predominantly manifested through sustained diplomatic advocacy, robust moral support, targeted humanitarian assistance, and strategic leveraging of international platforms and partnerships, rather than direct military intervention or formal mediation. Its significance lies in maintaining a crucial voice for justice and human rights on a global issue of profound moral consequence.
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II. Historical Context of Pakistan's Engagement with the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Pakistan's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause is deeply embedded in its historical narrative, a narrative shaped by ideological conviction, a shared sense of Islamic identity, and an adherence to anti-colonial principles. This enduring commitment has unfolded through several distinct historical phases, each reflecting the evolving regional and global geopolitical landscape.
A. Early Years (1947-1960s): The Genesis of Solidarity and Diplomatic Advocacy
Upon its creation in 1947, Pakistan, as a newly independent Muslim-majority state, immediately recognized the parallels between its own struggle for self-determination and the plight of the Palestinian Arabs. This foundational empathy led to an immediate alignment with the Arab and Palestinian cause. Pakistan vociferously opposed the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine (United Nations Resolution 181) in November 1947. Its rationale was clear: the plan disregarded the wishes of the indigenous Palestinian population and constituted an unjust division of their homeland.
Pakistan's first Foreign Minister, Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, emerged as a towering figure on the international stage during this formative period. At the UN General Assembly debates, he delivered powerful and impassioned speeches, eloquently articulating the Arab viewpoint and warning the international community about the perilous long-term consequences of such an imposed partition. Khan’s relentless advocacy at the UN and other significant Afro-Asian forums, such as the Bandung Conference in 1955, cemented Pakistan's burgeoning reputation as a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights and a leading voice in the broader anti-colonial and self-determination movements globally. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, while Pakistan did not dispatch a direct military contingent, there were confirmed reports of Pakistan's active diplomatic efforts to procure arms for Arab states, demonstrating an early commitment that went beyond mere rhetoric. This initial period was fundamentally characterized by strong moral, political, and robust diplomatic support.
B. Involvement in Arab-Israeli Wars (1967, 1973): Symbolic Military Solidarity
The 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War saw Pakistan's solidarity assume a more direct, albeit largely symbolic, military dimension. During the 1967 conflict, Pakistani volunteer pilots, most notably the legendary Flight Lieutenant Saiful Azam, actively participated in aerial combat missions alongside the Jordanian and Iraqi air forces. Saiful Azam achieved remarkable success, officially credited with downing multiple Israeli aircraft, a testament to Pakistan's willingness to contribute actively. Similarly, during the 1973 war, Pakistani military personnel offered various forms of assistance, and reports indicate further engagements by Pakistani pilots against Israeli forces. While these actions were limited in scale and did not alter the strategic outcome of the wars, they profoundly underscored Pakistan's unwavering solidarity and willingness to stand with the Arab nations and Palestinians in their existential struggle. Following the 1973 conflict, Pakistan formalized its support by signing an agreement with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to provide military training to PLO officers in its military institutions, directly contributing to the capacity-building of the Palestinian resistance movement.
C. Post-Cold War Era & Shifting Dynamics (1990s-2000s): Navigating a Changing Middle East
The dissolution of the Cold War order and the subsequent initiation of the Oslo Peace Accords in the early 1990s ushered in a new era of diplomatic engagement in the Middle East. As several Arab states began to engage in direct peace negotiations and eventual recognition with Israel, Pakistan steadfastly maintained its consistent policy of non-recognition. However, this period was not devoid of internal debate and external pressures. During the presidency of General Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008), there were public discussions and indirect contacts exploring the possibility of recognizing Israel. These deliberations were largely influenced by realpolitik considerations, including a desire to foster better relations with the United States and other Western powers, who encouraged such a move. President Musharraf himself notably shook hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2005, a highly symbolic gesture. Yet, despite these overtures and behind-the-scenes discussions, these explorations ultimately did not materialize into a concrete policy shift. This failure to normalize relations was primarily due to the overwhelming domestic public and political opposition within Pakistan, which highlighted the deeply entrenched nature of anti-Israeli sentiment and the profound ideological commitment to the Palestinian cause.
D. Recent Decades (2010s-Present): Unwavering Condemnation Amidst Intensified Escalations
The 2010s and particularly the period from 2023 to 2025 have witnessed renewed and intensified escalations in the Israel-Palestine conflict, notably successive military operations in Gaza and increased violence in the West Bank. Throughout these periods, Pakistan has consistently reiterated and amplified its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. The Pakistani government has issued strong and unequivocal condemnations of Israeli military actions, the expansion of illegal settlements, and the devastating blockade of Gaza. Pakistan consistently characterizes these actions as grave violations of international law, international humanitarian law, and fundamental human rights.
Pakistan's official stance remains firmly anchored in the internationally accepted two-state solution: advocating for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. During the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza since October 2023, Pakistan has been exceptionally vocal. Its leaders, including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, have urged an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, ensured unhindered and safe humanitarian access, and demanded accountability for atrocities and alleged war crimes. This period has seen Pakistan intensify its diplomatic efforts at various international forums, further solidifying its principled position even amidst evolving regional realignments and the normalization trends initiated by the Abraham Accords.
III. Pakistan's Foreign Policy Principles Guiding its Stance
Pakistan's foreign policy orientation towards the Israel-Palestine conflict is not merely a series of ad-hoc reactions to events; instead, it is profoundly rooted in a consistent set of core principles that have shaped its diplomatic and political actions since its very inception. These principles are intrinsically linked to Pakistan's identity as a Muslim-majority nation, its commitment to universal international norms, and its broader strategic and moral interests on the global stage.
A. Islamic Solidarity (Pan-Islamism): The Spiritual and Emotional Core
At the very heart of Pakistan's unwavering stance on Palestine lies a profound and deeply ingrained sense of Islamic solidarity, often termed Pan-Islamism. For Pakistan, the Palestinian cause transcends mere geopolitics; it is a profoundly religious, spiritual, and emotional issue. This is especially true given the immense sanctity of Al-Qudus-Al-Sharif (Jerusalem), which holds the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's first Qibla. This spiritual connection galvanizes not only the Pakistani public but also profoundly shapes official government policy, making it extremely difficult for any administration to deviate from this principled stance. Pakistan perceives itself as a leading voice and a steadfast torchbearer for Muslim causes globally, and the protracted suffering and legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians resonate deeply with its pan-Islamic identity.
This commitment is most tangibly manifested through Pakistan's robust and active participation within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Pakistan has consistently been a powerful and articulate voice within the OIC, vigorously advocating for stronger, more unified resolutions and concrete actions concerning Palestine. While the OIC has often faced valid criticism for its perceived lack of unified action or its pronouncements being more rhetorical than impactful, Pakistan consistently champions its revitalization, believing that a stronger, more cohesive OIC can exert greater collective diplomatic and moral pressure on the international community to address the Palestinian question. In the wake of the October 2023 Gaza escalation, Pakistan played an active role in numerous OIC emergency meetings, pushing for stronger condemnations and calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access, as reflected in OIC resolutions from 2024 and 2025.
B. Adherence to International Law and UN Resolutions: The Legal Framework
Pakistan's foreign policy is fundamentally anchored in its rigorous championship of international law, the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and adherence to universally accepted norms. In the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, this commitment translates into several critical positions:
1. Right to Self-Determination: Pakistan staunchly supports the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. This is a fundamental principle of international law, a cornerstone of the UN Charter, and, significantly, a core tenet of Pakistan's own historical struggle for independence. Pakistan argues that the denial of this right perpetuates injustice and instability.
2. Condemnation of Occupation and Settlements: Pakistan consistently and unequivocally condemns Israel's continued military occupation of Palestinian territories – the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem – seized in 1967. Furthermore, it vehemently denounces the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements within these occupied territories. These actions are viewed as clear and grave violations of international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), which explicitly prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own civilian population into occupied territory. Pakistan frequently cites relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (e.g., Resolution 242, 338, 497, and particularly 2334 of 2016), which call for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territories and deem settlements illegal under international law.
3. Respect for International Humanitarian Law: During periods of intensified conflict, Pakistan strongly condemns all violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli forces. This includes actions that result in disproportionate civilian casualties, the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and practices amounting to collective punishment. Pakistan consistently highlights the imperative of protecting civilians, upholding the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and ensuring accountability for breaches of IHL.
C. Human Rights Advocacy: The Moral Imperative
Beyond the purely legal framework, Pakistan actively champions the fundamental human rights of Palestinians. It consistently highlights the array of human rights abuses faced by Palestinians living under occupation, including but not limited to severe restrictions on freedom of movement, the demolition of homes, arbitrary detentions, administrative detentions, and the disproportionate use of force by Israeli security forces. This advocacy is pursued vigorously at various international human rights forums, most notably the UN Human Rights Council. Pakistan's consistent stance underscores its broader commitment to universal human rights and its solidarity with oppressed populations globally.
D. Non-Interference and Peaceful Resolution: The Diplomatic Stance
While serving as a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, Pakistan generally advocates for a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the conflict. This approach is firmly rooted in principles of justice, international law, and the universally accepted framework of the two-state solution. Its foreign policy promotes dialogue, diplomacy, and adherence to UN resolutions as the primary means to achieve a lasting and comprehensive resolution. Pakistan does not advocate for military confrontation but rather for sustained international diplomatic pressure, legal accountability, and adherence to agreed-upon international principles.
E. Link to Kashmir Dispute (Implicit/Explicit): A Shared Narrative of Self-Determination
An often-cited, though sometimes sensitive, dimension of Pakistan's foreign policy towards Palestine is the explicit or implicit parallel drawn with the long-standing Kashmir dispute. Both issues, in Pakistan's narrative, involve contested territories, protracted struggles for self-determination against occupation, and allegations of grave human rights violations. For a significant segment of Pakistani policymakers, public opinion, and strategic thinkers, the Palestinian struggle resonates deeply with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. This perceived linkage profoundly reinforces the depth of public sentiment within Pakistan and bolsters its principled stance against foreign occupation and for the universal rights of oppressed populations. While this linkage provides significant domestic impetus for Pakistan's foreign policy on Palestine, it can also be perceived in some international diplomatic circles as a complicating factor, where attempts are often made to compartmentalize and de-link the two disputes.
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IV. Constraints and Challenges Limiting Pakistan's Direct Role
Despite its profound ideological commitment and consistent principled stance, Pakistan's ability to play a direct, decisive, or mediating role in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict faces several significant, multifaceted constraints and challenges. A realistic assessment of Pakistan's potential influence necessitates a comprehensive understanding of these limitations.
A. Non-Recognition of Israel: The Diplomatic Impasse
The most overt and fundamental constraint remains Pakistan's unwavering, long-standing policy of non-recognition of the State of Israel. While this policy is deeply rooted in principle and enjoys overwhelming domestic support, it creates a formidable diplomatic barrier. Pakistan cannot formally mediate in the conflict, engage in direct negotiations, or leverage bilateral ties with Israel because, from Pakistan's perspective, such official relations do not exist. This severely restricts Pakistan's ability to directly influence Israeli policy or participate in any multi-party peace processes that might involve direct engagement with Israeli officials. Any suggestion of a shift in this policy without a concrete, comprehensive, and just resolution to the Palestinian issue, specifically the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state, would invite immediate, widespread, and potent condemnation from within Pakistan's political spectrum, religious circles, and the general populace. This makes any significant alteration to the policy domestically unfeasible for any government.
B. Domestic Political Landscape and Overwhelming Public Sentiment
Pakistan's foreign policy on Palestine is uniquely and profoundly shaped by an intensely emotional and deeply entrenched public sentiment against Israel. Generations of Pakistanis have been raised with a narrative emphasizing Israeli occupation, Palestinian suffering, and the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This makes the issue not merely a matter of foreign policy but a core element of national identity and religious conviction. Religious parties, civil society organizations, and the broader populace maintain a vigilant stance, viewing any potential normalization of ties with Israel as a direct betrayal of the Palestinian cause and a fundamental abandonment of Islamic principles. This robust and pervasive domestic consensus acts as a potent brake on any government contemplating a policy shift. Political leaders, irrespective of their party affiliation or ideological leanings, are acutely aware of the potential for widespread public outrage and significant political backlash should they attempt to alter this deeply ingrained position.
C. Economic Vulnerabilities and Geopolitical Dependencies
Pakistan's persistent and acute economic challenges, coupled with its significant reliance on financial assistance from powerful global institutions (such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) and wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, subtly but significantly constrain its diplomatic maneuverability. The series of "Abraham Accords," which saw several GCC states (including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco) normalize relations with Israel from 2020 onwards, has created a new and complex diplomatic environment in the Middle East. While Pakistan has successfully resisted direct pressure to follow suit, as revealed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who publicly stated that the US and "at least one other country" were pressing Pakistan to normalize ties with Israel in 2020, its economic dependence means it cannot afford to alienate these crucial benefactors overtly. This is particularly true given its substantial national debt (exceeding $130 billion as of 2025). This situation necessitates a delicate balancing act. Too strong a confrontational stance on the Palestine issue might be perceived negatively by some of these economically vital partners, potentially impacting vital remittances, investments, and aid flows.
D. Limited Diplomatic Clout in Global Power Dynamics
While Pakistan is a significant Muslim-majority nation, possesses a considerable military, and holds a crucial strategic location, it does not currently wield the same level of global diplomatic leverage or economic might as major powers such as the United States, China, the European Union, or even some regional actors. Its capacity to unilaterally broker a peace deal between Israel and Palestine or impose significant, coercive pressure on either side of the conflict is, therefore, inherently limited. The primary mediators and power brokers in the Israel-Palestine conflict have historically been major global powers. Pakistan's role is primarily confined to the realm of advocacy, solidarity, and diplomatic influence within the developing world and the Islamic bloc, rather than direct, high-level mediation.
E. Internal Instability and Overwhelming Focus on Domestic Issues
For much of its history, Pakistan has been consumed by a litany of pressing internal challenges. These include chronic political instability, recurring economic crises, persistent border security concerns, and protracted counter-terrorism operations. These pervasive domestic preoccupations frequently divert the attention, finite resources, and diplomatic energy of successive Pakistani governments away from more assertive or sustained foreign policy interventions in distant international conflicts. The essential governmental "bandwidth" required for proactive and high-impact diplomatic initiatives on complex global issues like Palestine is often significantly constrained by the overwhelming imperative of addressing pressing internal priorities and ensuring national survival and stability.
F. The Indian Factor and Regional Geopolitics
The growing strategic and defense ties between India and Israel introduce another layer of complexity and constraint for Pakistan. India has significantly deepened its defense and technological cooperation with Israel, becoming a major importer of Israeli military and surveillance technology. This burgeoning Indo-Israeli relationship is a source of considerable concern for Pakistan, which views it through the prism of its entrenched rivalry with India. This dynamic indirectly reinforces Pakistan's reluctance to engage with Israel, as doing so might be perceived as legitimizing or strengthening a strategic partner of its primary regional adversary. Furthermore, some analysts argue that Pakistan's strong pro-Palestine stance also serves as a means of burnishing its credentials within the Muslim world, implicitly challenging India's growing engagement with Gulf states and Israel.
In conclusion, while Pakistan's principled stance on Palestine is deeply rooted, widely supported domestically, and ideologically significant, it is subjected to the harsh realities of international power politics, economic fragilities, and overwhelming internal preoccupations. These multifaceted factors collectively constrain its ability to act as a direct, independent mediator or to unilaterally impose significant influence on the core dynamics of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
V. Potential Avenues for Pakistan to Play a Significant Role
Despite the multifaceted constraints, Pakistan's long-standing moral authority, principled diplomatic stance, and genuine public solidarity for the Palestinian cause afford it several critical avenues through which it can and does play a significant and constructive role. Its potential for increased influence lies in intelligently leveraging these existing platforms and exploring new opportunities, often in strategic concert with like-minded nations and international organizations.
A. Enhanced Diplomatic Advocacy in International Forums: Amplifying the Voice of Justice
This remains Pakistan's most potent and consistently utilized tool. Pakistan can not only maintain but also significantly amplify its voice and exert moral and diplomatic pressure through various international platforms:
1. United Nations (UN): The United Nations remains the primary global forum for addressing international disputes, and Pakistan is an active member.
- General Assembly (UNGA): Pakistan can continue to be a leading voice at the UNGA, consistently co-sponsoring and strongly advocating for resolutions that condemn Israeli actions, uphold Palestinian rights, and call for strict adherence to international law. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN (Ambassador Munir Akram until 2025, and subsequently Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad from July 2025 onwards) frequently delivers powerful and morally resonant statements. For instance, in the aftermath of the October 2023 Gaza escalation, Ambassador Ahmad repeatedly urged the UN Security Council not to remain a "bystander" to the unfolding crisis and called for urgent action to prevent "genocide." These statements, backed by comprehensive arguments, are crucial for shaping the global narrative.
- Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Pakistan should maintain and intensify its active participation in debates and resolutions concerning human rights violations in the Palestinian territories. This includes supporting independent investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, advocating for accountability mechanisms, and highlighting the disproportionate impact of military actions on civilian populations, especially women and children. In April 2024, Pakistan notably spearheaded a non-binding resolution on behalf of the OIC at the UNHRC, calling for an end to the sale and transfer of military aid to Israel, demonstrating a tangible diplomatic initiative.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ): This represents a crucial and evolving legal avenue for Pakistan to exert influence.42 Following the UNGA's request in December 2022 for an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Pakistan has a significant opportunity. Pakistan has already welcomed the ICJ's provisional measures in the South Africa vs. Israel genocide case (January 2024). Pakistan submitted extensive "Written Comments" to the ICJ in November 2023, meticulously detailing legal arguments against Israel's prolonged occupation, de facto annexation, and alleged apartheid practices, and emphasizing the obligations of all states not to recognize such illegal situations.43 This legal pathway offers a powerful, non-confrontational means of seeking justice, upholding international norms, and establishing a robust legal precedent.
- Security Council (UNSC): Pakistan's election as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2025-2026 term is a critical opportunity.44 During its tenure, Pakistan can use its influential platform to push for stronger UNSC resolutions. This includes advocating for immediate and lasting ceasefires, ensuring unhindered and massive humanitarian access, pressing for the protection of civilians, and demanding accountability for perpetrators of international crimes. Ambassador Ahmad's consistent calls, such as "enough is enough" (May 2025), and urging the Council to "act through a resolution," underscore Pakistan's determined approach during its UNSC role.
2. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): The OIC serves as a vital platform for Muslim countries, and Pakistan plays a central role.
- Strengthening OIC's Cohesion and Effectiveness: Pakistan can play a leadership role in advocating for greater unity, purpose, and concrete action within the OIC. While the OIC has sometimes faced criticism for its perceived lack of unified action or its pronouncements being more rhetorical than impactful, Pakistan can consistently push for more tangible diplomatic and, where feasible, coordinated economic measures. This includes facilitating frank intra-OIC dialogues to bridge ideological and diplomatic divides, particularly with member states that have normalized relations with Israel (post-Abraham Accords), to forge a common strategy on Palestine.
- Championing Implementation of OIC Resolutions: Pakistan should champion the effective implementation of OIC resolutions that support Palestine, translating them from declarations into actionable diplomatic initiatives and collective pressure. OIC resolutions, such as those passed at the 51st CFM in June 2025, consistently reaffirm the centrality of the Palestinian cause, condemn Israeli actions, and call for the protection of Islamic holy sites. Pakistan's proactive engagement in these sessions is crucial.
B. Humanitarian Assistance: Practical Solidarity
Pakistan has a consistent record of providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, especially during periods of intense conflict and humanitarian crises. This is a tangible and critical role that directly alleviates suffering:
1. Sustained Direct Aid to Palestinians: Pakistan has dispatched multiple tranches of vital humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank. Since October 2023, Pakistan has sent at least 14 humanitarian relief consignments to Palestine, comprising approximately 1,478 tons of essential relief supplies. These include winterized tents, tarpaulins, blankets, medical supplies, and food items. These consignments are typically transported via Pakistan Air Force (PAF) C-130 flights to El-Arish, Egypt, for onward delivery to Gaza, often in collaboration with organizations like Al-Khidmat Foundation. The dispatch of the 5th tranche in February 2025 and the 14th in June 2025 underscores Pakistan's ongoing and practical commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
2. Advocacy for Unhindered Aid Access: Beyond simply providing aid, Pakistan should continue to actively pressure international actors, including the UN and powerful states, and directly Israel, to ensure continuous, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and other Palestinian territories. This includes vociferously condemning any restrictions on aid delivery, highlighting the desperate need for food, water, medicine, and shelter, and challenging the use of starvation as a weapon of war (a concern explicitly noted in OIC resolutions).
C. Public Diplomacy and Awareness: Shaping Global Narratives
Pakistan's robust and deeply ingrained public support for Palestine provides a powerful domestic platform for effective public diplomacy on the international stage:
1. Countering Misinformation and Narrative Building: Pakistan can leverage its diplomatic missions, state-controlled and private media, and cultural exchange programs to counter misinformation and effectively communicate the Palestinian narrative to a broader global audience. This involves highlighting the historical injustices, the realities of life under occupation, the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood.
2. Engagement with International Civil Society: Collaborating with reputable international human rights organizations (e.g., Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International), legal advocacy groups, academic institutions, and leading think tanks worldwide can significantly amplify the Palestinian voice. This collaboration can help build broader international solidarity for their cause and exert pressure on governments through civil society channels.
3. Diaspora Engagement: Pakistan can actively mobilize its large and influential diaspora communities across the globe, particularly in Western countries, to advocate for Palestinian rights within their respective host countries. This involves encouraging them to engage with local political representatives, participate in peaceful demonstrations, and contribute to awareness campaigns.
D. Leveraging Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Diplomatic Reach
Pakistan's existing strategic partnerships with other key global and regional players can be intelligently leveraged to advance the Palestinian cause:
1. China: Pakistan's "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership" with China offers a significant diplomatic avenue. China has a growing economic and political influence in the Middle East, generally supports the two-state solution, and has maintained robust ties with Arab states, Iran, and, increasingly, has engaged with Israel.52 Pakistan can coordinate its diplomatic efforts with China to exert pressure for a just resolution, recognizing China's increasing role as a global power.
2. Turkey and Iran: Working closely with other like-minded Muslim countries such as Turkey and Iran, who also maintain strong principled positions against Israeli occupation and for Palestinian rights, can help coordinate diplomatic efforts, share intelligence, and build a more cohesive and assertive front within the Muslim world on this issue. General Asim Munir's visit to Turkey in June 2025 to attend an emergency OIC summit on the Iran-Israel crisis highlights this coordination.
3. Russia: Engaging Russia, which historically has played a significant role in the Middle East and maintains complex ties with various regional actors, can also be beneficial. Russia generally supports a two-state solution and can contribute to de-escalation efforts, particularly through its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
E. Economic Diplomacy (Cautious and Principled Approach)
While Pakistan's own economic vulnerabilities limit its capacity for direct economic coercion, certain forms of economic diplomacy can be explored, albeit with careful consideration of their broader implications:
1. Promoting Trade with Palestine: Where feasible and practical, Pakistan can actively explore and promote direct trade links with the Palestinian Authority, particularly in the West Bank. This can help bolster the struggling Palestinian economy, reduce its dependence on the occupying power, and serve as a tangible form of solidarity and resilience-building.
2. Selective Economic Pressure Advocacy (Long-term & Coordinated): In a hypothetical scenario of a broader, coordinated Muslim bloc action, Pakistan could potentially advocate for selective economic measures targeting companies or entities directly involved in illegal Israeli settlements. However, this remains a highly sensitive and challenging area, given the complexities of global economic interconnectedness and Pakistan's own imperative to maintain good relations with international financial institutions and trading partners. Such a move would only be viable if adopted by a significant number of Muslim states to mitigate negative repercussions.
F. Promoting Interfaith Dialogue: Building Bridges of Understanding
Pakistan can also contribute to reducing tensions and fostering pathways for peace by promoting interfaith dialogue. This involves initiating and supporting platforms where religious leaders, scholars, and community representatives from Islam, Christianity, and Judaism can engage in constructive dialogue. Such initiatives can help to de-escalate religious rhetoric surrounding the conflict, build bridges of understanding, emphasize shared values, and explore common grounds for a peaceful co-existence rooted in mutual respect.
VI. The Way Forward: Recommendations for Pakistan's Enhanced Role
To maximize its impact and effectively navigate the profoundly complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, Pakistan needs to adopt a sophisticated, strategic, and comprehensive approach.
A. Pragmatic Idealism: Balancing Principles with Realism
Pakistan must continue to uphold its principled and ideologically driven stance on Palestine, which is firmly rooted in justice, international law, and human rights. However, this idealism should be meticulously complemented by pragmatism in its diplomatic execution. This means realistically understanding the inherent limits of its direct influence while simultaneously optimizing its leverage through multilateral forums and strategic partnerships. A rigid, isolated policy, no matter how profoundly principled, may prove less effective than a flexible, well-networked, and strategically adaptive approach that seeks incremental gains and builds broader consensus.
B. Strengthening Internal Consensus and Expertise: A United and Informed Front
Maintaining robust domestic political stability and ensuring a unified national consensus on the core parameters of Pakistan's Palestinian policy is absolutely paramount. A fractured or internally divided front significantly weakens Pakistan's voice and credibility on the international stage. Furthermore, Pakistan must make a concerted and sustained investment in developing a highly skilled cadre of diplomats, foreign policy experts, and international legal scholars who possess specialized, in-depth knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs, international law pertaining to conflict, and modern conflict resolution techniques. This specialized expertise will enable Pakistan to present more nuanced, legally robust, and strategically effective arguments on global platforms, enhancing its persuasive power.
C. Coordinated Muslim World Strategy: Translating Rhetoric into Action
The historical effectiveness of the Muslim world's collective response to the Israel-Palestine conflict has often been hampered by internal divisions, differing national interests, and a tendency for rhetoric to outweigh tangible action. Pakistan should relentlessly and actively push for a more cohesive, actionable, and impact-oriented strategy within the OIC. This necessitates fostering genuine, frank dialogue and robust coordination among OIC member states, encouraging them to bridge ideological and diplomatic divergences, particularly in the wake of the Abraham Accords, and collectively formulating potent diplomatic, economic, and moral pressure points. The resolutions passed at OIC Summits and Council of Foreign Ministers meetings, such as the 51st CFM in June 2025, provide a foundational framework; the challenge lies in their consistent and unified implementation.
D. Focus on Accountability and Legal Avenues: Pursuing Justice Through Law
Pakistan should relentlessly advocate for accountability for violations of international law, including alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of aggression, committed in the context of the conflict. Its proactive engagement with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's prolonged occupation and policies is a critical and strategic step. Pakistan must ensure its legal submissions to the ICJ are meticulously researched, comprehensive, and legally unassailable, thereby contributing significantly to the global legal discourse on the conflict and seeking to establish robust international legal precedents. Supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories also aligns with this objective.
E. Continuous and Targeted Humanitarian Support: Practical Empathy
Beyond symbolic gestures, Pakistan needs to ensure a robust, sustained, and needs-based commitment to humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. This involves meticulously coordinating with international relief organizations to ensure that the aid reaches those most in need, with transparency and efficiency. Pakistan should also actively participate in and contribute to global efforts for the long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza and other war-affected areas. The consistent dispatch of multiple aid tranches to Gaza since October 2023 (e.g., the 14th consignment by June 2025) is a commendable effort that needs to be continuously maintained and, where feasible, scaled up.
F. Multilateralism and Strategic Outreach: Broadening International Consensus
Pakistan should intensify its diplomatic outreach not only to its traditional allies but also to non-traditional partners and influential global powers, including China, Russia, and European states. The aim should be to build a broader international consensus on the absolute necessity of a just, comprehensive, and lasting resolution to the conflict. Leveraging its current and upcoming terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (including the July 2025 UNSC presidency) provides an unparalleled opportunity to strategically push for these objectives, influence the agenda, and rally international support. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar's expected chairing of the July 2025 UNSC meeting on UN-OIC cooperation presents a key moment to highlight the Palestinian issue within the UN framework.
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VII. Conclusion
The Israel-Palestine conflict represents a profound and enduring challenge to international peace, justice, and fundamental human dignity. Pakistan's historical trajectory, deeply rooted in its Islamic identity, its foundational principles of self-determination, and its consistent stand against oppression, has unequivocally positioned it as a steadfast and principled supporter of the Palestinian cause. From Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s early condemnations of injustice to Pakistan’s symbolic participation in Arab-Israeli wars and its continuous, robust diplomatic advocacy at the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Pakistan’s commitment to the Palestinian struggle has remained unwavering through successive governments and geopolitical shifts.
However, a pragmatic assessment reveals that Pakistan’s capacity to play a direct, primary mediating role between Israelis and Palestinians is significantly constrained. These limitations stem from its foundational non-recognition of Israel, its persistent internal political and economic vulnerabilities that dictate cautious diplomacy, and the increasingly complex, shifting geopolitical landscape of the broader Middle East, particularly influenced by the Abraham Accords and the varied approaches of its traditional allies.
Nevertheless, to dismiss Pakistan's role as insignificant would be a profound misjudgment. Pakistan's true significance in this protracted conflict lies in its powerful moral voice, its consistent and articulate advocacy for the principles of international law, human rights, and self-determination, and its unique capacity to mobilize solidarity within the broader Muslim world. By strategically enhancing its diplomatic efforts in multilateral forums such as the UN (especially through its active participation in the ICJ advisory opinion proceedings and during its upcoming UNSC term), by providing sustained and effective humanitarian assistance, by engaging in robust public diplomacy to shape global narratives, and by intelligently leveraging its strategic partnerships with influential nations like China, Turkey, and Iran, Pakistan can indeed play a more profound, constructive, and impactful role.
This role may not manifest as direct, high-profile mediation between the primary belligerents, but it is, nonetheless, critically important. It contributes to sustaining international pressure for justice, upholding fundamental legal principles, alleviating immense human suffering, and ensuring that the legitimate Palestinian narrative for statehood and dignity remains at the forefront of the global conscience. Ultimately, Pakistan's consistent and evolving contribution is an integral component of the broader international effort towards achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution based on the universally accepted two-state solution. This resolution is not merely desirable, but essential for achieving genuine and enduring peace and stability in the Middle East and, by extension, the wider international system.
Potential CSS and PMS Exams Questions
- Analyze the historical evolution of Pakistan's foreign policy towards the Israel-Palestine conflict, identifying the key ideological and geopolitical factors that have shaped its consistent non-recognition of Israel.
- Critically evaluate the constraints and challenges that limit Pakistan's direct diplomatic role in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict. Discuss how domestic public opinion and economic vulnerabilities influence Pakistan's policy.
- To what extent can Pakistan leverage its role within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to advance the Palestinian cause, especially in light of the Abraham Accords and the recent escalations in Gaza (2023-2025)? What are the OIC's current limitations and how can Pakistan help overcome them?
- Examine the significance of Pakistan's humanitarian assistance and its advocacy for international law (including at the ICJ) in shaping global discourse on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Provide recent examples from 2023-2025 to substantiate your argument.
- Discuss the potential avenues for Pakistan to play a more significant and constructive role in advocating for a just resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, focusing on its diplomatic leverage at the UN and its strategic partnerships. What are the 'ways forward' for Pakistan's foreign policy on this issue?
- Drawing parallels between the Kashmir dispute and the Israel-Palestine conflict, elaborate how this linkage influences Pakistan's foreign policy on Palestine. Is this linkage a strength or a weakness in Pakistan's diplomatic efforts?
- Pakistan has consistently called for a two-state solution. What are the key elements of this solution as envisioned by Pakistan, and what role can Pakistan play in mobilizing international support for its implementation?
