Pakistan will not establish ties with Israel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Monday it would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel until the solution of the Middle East problem and creation of an independent Palestinian state.

"Any progress towards (establishment of) Pakistan-Israel relations will depend on solution of the Middle East problem and creation of an independent Palestinian state," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said.

Pakistan established its first direct contact with Israel at foreign ministry level in Turkey last year. But it also maintained it would not recognise Israel until creation of the Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The spokesperson also denied Pakistan had taken a decision to send its troops to Lebanon.

"No decision has yet been taken to send Pakistani troops to join the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon," she said.