Saturday, March 29, 2025
Will Pakistan Lift Its Travel Ban on Israel? Here’s What the Country Said About the Reports
The Government of Pakistan on Friday dismissed media reports claiming that the Shehbaz Sharif administration was preparing to send 20,000 troops to Gaza and was considering removing a clause from Pakistani passports that bans travel to Israel.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that the reports aired by a TV channel — suggesting that Pakistan was planning to deploy a large contingent of troops in Gaza under Western and Israeli supervision — were false and baseless. The ministry added that the same report also incorrectly claimed that the government had removed the passport clause declaring it invalid for travel to Israel.
In a post on social media platform X, the Information Ministry cited a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding position:
“Pakistan’s policy toward Israel remains unchanged. Islamabad does not recognize the State of Israel, and there is no military cooperation, participation, or discussion on the matter.”
The statement further clarified the passport issue, saying:
“The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports confirms that Pakistani passports remain valid for all countries except Israel.”
Pakistan reiterated its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital. The ministry urged citizens to rely only on official statements and verified policy updates, and to ignore unverified or politically motivated media claims.
Earlier this week, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in an interview on Geo News that the decision to send Pakistani troops as part of a Gaza peacekeeping force was still under consideration.
“It’s something that still needs to be finalized and is under process,” Asif stated. “The government will make a decision through due procedure, and I don’t want to pre-empt that process.”
The proposed U.S.-brokered Gaza peace deal reportedly includes the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) composed mainly of troops from Muslim-majority nations. Sources familiar with the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity, said discussions within the Pakistani government and military are at an advanced stage, suggesting that Islamabad may be inclined to participate in the mission.
