Pakistan dismisses remarks by Israeli envoy, cites Gaza crisis

Pakistan on Thursday rejected remarks attributed to Israel’s ambassador to India, calling them baseless and accusing Israel of deflecting attention from its own record. In a statement issued March 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a characterization circulating in a video clip on social media was unfounded. “We firmly reject this baseless characterization,” spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said. He added that the “real record of aggression and rogue conduct” was reflected in Israel’s actions. The statement referred to what it described as Israel’s “illegal occupation” and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. It also cited legal challenges faced by Israeli leadership in international courts, underscoring Pakistan’s position on accountability under international law. The Foreign Office emphasized that responsible states must uphold international law rather than attempt to deflect criticism. The remarks came amid heightened tensions and continued international scrutiny over the situation in Gaza. Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently voiced support for Palestinian statehood in international forums.