Disturbed over angry Arab reactions here to Prime Minister H. S. Suhrawardy’s remarks regarding the Arab-Israel issue, the Pakistani delegation today put out a press release insisting that Mr. Suhrawardy’s statement does not imply any change in Karachi’s basic policy towards the Palestine problem.
In Karachi, a statement was issued by the Foreign Ministry declaring that Pakistan has not recognized Israel and “shall never do so.” The statement said that the remarks made by the Pakistani Prime Minister, who is now visiting the United States, in which he offered to mediate the Arab-Israel dispute, were “misunderstood.”
“The Prime Minister has authorized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations to state that interpretations which have been placed on his statement do not reflect his true intention,” the statement said. “What the Prime Minister had desired to stress was the necessity of solving the Arab-Israeli dispute over Palestine in a peaceful manner.”
(The Damascus Radio has opened an attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Suhrawardy for offering to mediate the Arab-Israel situation. He was called on to revise his stand. Commenting on the Pakistani’s statements, Syrian Premier Sabri al-Asali said: “The Arabs will never admit the existence of Israel no matter what the circumstances or events. The Arab countries do not and will not agree to meet with Israel around a table. Israel has no place in the Middle East. The Arabs will continue their struggle, working for the liberation of the usurped parts of Arab Palestine, however long its occupation lasts.”)
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