ISLAMABAD, SEPT 12: Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar and rejected the alleged anti-Pakistan remarks of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Foreign Office made it clear that Pakistan stands firmly with its “brotherly Islamic country” Qatar and urged the Muslim Ummah to unite against Israel’s ongoing provocations.
At his weekly press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the Israeli strikes were “against international laws and the UN Charter” and posed a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Pakistan’s support for Qatar
The spokesperson emphasized that Israel’s attack on Doha was a direct assault on the security and sovereignty of Qatar.
“Pakistan stands with its brotherly country Qatar,” Khan said, adding that Muslim countries must “join hands to stop the path of the oppressor.”
Also Read: Israeli air strike targets Hamas officials in Doha
He further clarified that Pakistan does not consider it appropriate to respond directly to the statements of leaders “responsible for genocide”. He stressed that Pakistan was fully capable of defending itself.
Netanyahu’s remarks and call for Muslim unity
Responding to questions about Netanyahu’s alleged anti-Pakistan comments, Khan reiterated that Pakistan would not legitimize such rhetoric.
Instead, he called on Muslim nations to unite against Israeli provocations, stressing that Israeli aggression undermines regional stability and threatens ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
PM’s position
Khan also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s stance on the issue, noting that the premier has called for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
The prime minister underscored that Muslim unity is essential to confront Israel’s provocations and safeguard peace in the region.
A day ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Israel’s attack on Qatar to the US killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
Also Read: Netanyahu vows more attacks abroad after Qatar strike
“So we did exactly what America did when it pursued Al-Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan and then killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Now, various countries around the world condemn Israel. They should be ashamed of themselves,” the Israeli prime minister said in a video statement.
He said, “What did they do after America killed Osama bin Laden? Did they respond by saying, ‘Oh, what a terrible thing was done to Afghanistan or to Pakistan?’ Instead, they applauded. They should applaud Israel for upholding the same principles and implementing them.”
He also threatened Qatar and other countries with expelling Hamas leaders or “bringing them to justice,” saying, “If you don’t, we will.”
Pakistan-UK relations clarified
The spokesperson also addressed speculation regarding Pakistan’s ties with the United Kingdom.
He dismissed claims that Pakistan was being targeted by any UK policy, clarifying instead that both countries are working together to confront shared challenges and maintain cooperation under existing agreements.
Also Read: Qatar urges collective response after Israeli strike on Doha
This response comes in the wake of recent reports of Shabana Mahmood, the UK’s new home secretary, saying Britain could suspend issuing visas to citizens of countries such as Pakistan that fail to “play ball” and agree to return deals for migrants.
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, and the Gambia have all previously been identified as being uncooperative.
Mahmood, the former justice secretary with a reputation for being a tough political operator, stated that securing the UK border was her “top priority”.
“For us, that means the possibility of cutting visas in the future to say we do expect countries to play ball,” she told reporters. Shabana went further: “Play by the rules, and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country you have to take them back.”
