Reactions In Pakistan To Hamas Attack In Israel – Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar: 'The Two-State Solution Does Not At All Mean Accepting Israel As A Separate State'; Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan: 'Israel Is A Constant Threat To International Peace And Is An Ulcer In The Chest Of The Civilized World'

As reported by newspapers in Pakistan, following the Hamas attack on October 7, the government and Islamic religious leaders in Pakistan have expressed support for Palestine and Hamas, while criticizing Israel's policies toward Palestinians.

Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, as quoted by Roznama Jang, said: "The two-state solution does not at all mean accepting Israel as a separate state."

Following are some excerpts from their statements.

"The Two-State Solution Does Not At All Mean Accepting Israel As A Separate State"

According to a report in Urdu daily Roznama Jang ("Daily War"), Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, who is tasked with holding elections and running the interim government, said: "The two-state solution does not at all mean accepting Israel as a separate state."[1]

In an interview a day earlier, Kakar had said: "The solution of the Israel-Palestine dispute is a two-state solution, which the Palestinians themselves demand. After that, stability can be seen in the Middle East."[2]

Shehbaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan who recently stepped down in favor of the interim government – tweeted: "Ending Israel's illegal occupation, settlement expansion on Palestinian land, and oppression against innocent Palestinians are key for peace, justice, and prosperity in the region. I am not surprised by today's events. What else can one expect when Israel continues to deny Palestinians their legitimate right to self-determination and statehood? What else, after daily provocations, attacks by occupation forces and settlers, and raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites of Christianity and Islam?"[3]

Sharif added: "The world must recognize that durable peace requires: ending the occupation of Palestinian land, recognizing the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, and upholding Palestinians' right to independence and sovereignty."[4]

Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar

Siraj-ul-Haq, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, said: "Israel has been carrying out the genocide of the oppressed Palestinians for 50 years. The Palestinian fight is a fight between the truth and falsehood."[5]

Siraj-ul-Haq also criticized Pakistan's care-taker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar for describing the conflict as a "fighting between two states" and added: "This is not a fighting between two states, but a fight between the oppressor and the oppressed."[6] The religious leader also said that Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan will organize Palestinian Solidarity Week across the country for expressing support for the Palestinians.

"Israel Is A Constant Threat To International Peace And Is An Ulcer In The Chest Of The Civilized World"

Liaqat Baloch, the deputy emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, said: "Israel is a constant threat to international peace and is an ulcer in the chest of the civilized world. The Israeli Zionist terrorism has crossed the limits of atrocities and subjugation of Palestinians, killings and massacres, and the illegitimate occupation on the Palestinian land."[7] Liaqat Baloch, speaking in Lahore, called upon Muslims worldwide to support Palestinians.

Baloch said: "Some Islamic countries should stop the idea of recognizing the illegitimate state of Israel on the basis of Israeli aggression and Palestinians' courageous resistance. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran, acting as part of a joint strategy, should immediately play a role for the security of Palestinians and for ending the illegitimate Israeli Zionist occupation."[8]

The Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, took out a rally in Karachi to show solidarity with Palestine on the day the Hamas attack began. According to a report in Urdu daily Roznama Ummat, the protesters carried Palestinian flags and were addressed by Bilal Jamil of IJT's Karachi unit, who said: "Baitul Muqaddas [i.e., Jerusalem] is part of our faith. Hamas attacked Israel simply out of the spirit of jihad and forced the aggressor state to move back... The people of Pakistan stand by their Palestinian brothers and Hamas. Hamas has proved that the spirit of the longing for martyrdom is heavier than every worldly weapon and technology."[9]

Siraj-ul-Haq, the emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan

A joint statement issued by Pir Syed Abdul Qadir Shah Shirazi, the emir of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat Pakistan, and several other leaders from the group such as Syed Rafiq Shah, Maulana Abrar Ahmad Rahmani, Dr. Syed Abdul Wahab Qadri, Allama Khalilur Rehman Chishti, Syed Rafiq Shah, Mufti Bilal Qadri, Maulana Altaf Qadri, and Allama Kamran Rizvi.

These leaders, according to a media report, stated: "Palestinian mujahideen buried Israel's pride into dust. The attacks by the Palestinian mujahideen on Israel are reaction against the Zionist aggression. The surprise attacks have destroyed the impression of Israel being invincible."[10] The Jamaat Ahle Sunnat Pakistan leaders said: "The defense of Palestinians against the Zionist terrorism and liberation of Bait-ul-Muqaddas [Jerusalem] is the right of the Muslim Ummah."[11]