IT IS TIME FOR PAKISTAN TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL

When Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, I said it was a great thing for the Pakistani people because he would bring peace through strength while improving relations with India over the long haul.

Shortly thereafter, he began doing that.

“Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue,” the Prime Minister tweeted earlier this year.

“However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.”

This came after the cancellation of the planned meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Pakistan and India were supposed to continue peace talks.

Khan’s tweet and tough stance was a show of strength, basically telling India they were welcome back at the table, but India would not call the shots.

This showed me that Khan was the right man for the job and that he is willing to be proactive about creating necessary positive relationships with nations Pakistan has traditionally not been overly friendly with.

Nations like Israel.

This is why I was so disappointed when I read earlier today that Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi said Pakistan will not establish ties with Israel and that it supports the Palestinians because the Gaza Strip has also faced “unprecedented atrocities” like Kashmir.

Imran Khan needs to step in and help work towards changing that policy ASAP for the good of the Pakistani people.

Khan has shown he is open to discussing peace efforts and economic cooperation that could potentially lift thousands of people from India and Pakistan out of poverty.

He should consider that the same result could be possible for the Pakistani and Israeli people if the two nations work together in some capacity.

Clearly, more friendly relations between the two nations would be in EVERYBODY’S best interests.

And it is time that Pakistan understand that Palestinian terror groups are the true enemy of all Middle Eastern nations, not the Israelis who are a western style democracy who could offer a beneficial friendship.

As Vice President of the American Jewish Congress and a Pakistani born man, I can think of nothing that would bring me greater joy than seeing these two great nations finally starting to get on the same page.

And I have no doubt it is a relationship that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be thrilled to hep facilitate.

Prime Minister Khan has potential to be a truly great leader for the Pakistani people.

It is time he proves it by extending a hand of friendship to Israel, because it is not only something that could help citizens of both countries, but it is the moral and just thing to do.