In the last week of March, a few media reports following developments first brought to light on social networking platforms went viral – namely those of some Kosher foods being sent to Israel from Pakistan. These were made prominent by a Pakistani claiming to be a Jew by the name of Fishel bin Khaled on Twitter.
Fishel unabashedly tweets from his account about being able to successfully develop trade links between Pakistan and Israel both of whom not only do not have any formal relations but are considered enemy states. Pakistan’s passport clearly forbids travel to Israel and any talk of formalizing links with Israel are frowned upon. The founder of Pakistan Quaid Azam Ali Jinnah, still considered the cornerstone of it’s ideological pillars along with Allama Iqbal, forbade in clear terms of the recognition of Israel. Pakistan’s long standing support for Palestine stems from its Muslim identity enacted by All India Muslim League(AIML), that clearly stood with Palestinians as long as over a hundred years back during it’s emergence as a political force for the Indian Muslims. Numerous resolutions and declarations by the AIML went on to cement this unwavering support for the Palestinians forcibly thrown out of their homes with the catastrophic establishment of the Zionist entity. In fact the historic Lahore declaration of 1940 had two prominent demands – one for the founding of a new state for the Indian Muslims that later became Pakistan and the second for not recognizing any future Jewish state in Palestine.
Though the amount of trade shipment that Fishel boasts about is meager by any measure, it garnered more attention than any other shipment from Pakistan would usually do. This was made all the more sensational by the declaration from American Jewish Congress welcoming such trade development between the state of Israel and Pakistan. It highlighted the deal between Fishel and 3 other Israeli businessmen fomenting a small Pakistani Kosher Food Industry and tall claims about other things that are yet to be established.
However as such news was met with the harsh criticism from Pakistanis only and particularly those opposed to the current Federal government there were also towering praises of such a development. Prominent media moguls and political persons commended on the much ‘needed’ and belated boost to Pakistan’s flailing economy. In recent years a certain small class of Pakistanis have called for direct and better relations with Israel. They bank on economic prospects and positive image of inclusivity to go for this tie up between the two vastly differing states with nothing in common but born within a few months of each other’s establishment – 1947 and 1948 respectively.
When such pro normalization people in Pakistan talk about wanting to have relations with Israel on the premise that it would improve Pakistan’s economy they, do they really have that in mind?
While it may not harm fantasizing about relations with the Zionist entity that would put Pakistan on an equal footing with the rest of the world. But is there any real merit to it?
For if they had the real interest of Pakistan in mind they would take up certain other bilateral/regional relations for Pakistan that would make sense. Such relations would benefit Pakistan much more so than keeping a line to Tel Aviv. However you would never hear them push those cases.
Pakistan’s relations with it’s neighbours have been edgy for much of it’s existence particularly with India and Afghanistan. In Pakistan’s current economic crisis its relations with India would benefit it by a large margin especially in establishing barter trade. This single handedly has the most benefit to Pakistan’s economy. With better and serious work Islamabad could have a much developed economy with Iran using the barter system or any other methods to circumvent any trouble with sanctions that may persist. Already a huge informal economy through smuggling exists between the bordering countries. Another country ignored is Bangladesh which has huge potentials for Pakistan’s textile export segment helping to bridge the import export deficit and the dollar shortage to alleviate the short term issues and reaping huge economic benefits for the future.
However, the proponents of Pakistan’s relations with Tel Aviv do not just do it for economy but what they cite as more inclusiveness Talks about diplomatic relations to boost Pakistan’s global image do come up every now and then .
However a much similar to Israel for Pakistan is Armenia, that Pakistan doesn’t formally recognize due to the Nagorno Karabakh issue with Azerbaijan, who ironically does itself recognize Armenia despite having no diplomatic relations with it’s nemesis.
But as in the original context of this writing neighbouring and emerging economies in Central Asia and East Africa with whom Pakistan has longstanding historic and diplomatic ties are Pakistan’s way to go forward if it really is serious about having a more inclusive and growth oriented model.
The recognition of Israel is a thorny issue within the country. Decried by its masses it will also put Pakistan’s more Islamic identity under question and trouble it’s diplomatic case on Kashmir.
