ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has firmly rejected Indian media reports alleging that the country has removed the long-standing clause from its passport declaring it invalid for travel to Israel, terming the claim “completely baseless and laughable.”
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarified that no such proposal has ever been discussed or considered at any level of the government. “Pakistan has never recognised Israel, and there is absolutely no question of any form of military cooperation,” the ministry stated, reaffirming Islamabad’s unwavering stance on the Palestinian cause.
The clarification came in response to a report aired by India’s Republic TV, which falsely claimed that Pakistan had deleted the restriction on travel to Israel from its passport and was preparing to send 20,000 troops to Gaza under Western and Israeli supervision. Both claims were swiftly denied by Pakistani authorities.
The Ministry of Information dismissed the assertions as “propaganda designed to mislead,” adding that neither the Foreign Office nor the military had announced or authorised any mission related to Gaza. “Our position on Israel and Palestine is rooted in principles of justice and self-determination, and it has never changed,” the statement emphasised.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the Pakistani passport remains unchanged and still carries the printed line:
“This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.”
Similarly, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports reaffirmed that the clause remains intact and no modification has been made to it. Officials explained that while Pakistan is introducing a new, more secure passport design, the updates are purely technical including modern security features, the addition of the mother’s name, and visa pages displaying national landmarks to reflect the country’s cultural diversity.
“There are no changes to Pakistan’s diplomatic or legal stance in these upgrades,” an official clarified.
Criticising what it described as a “habitual spread of misinformation,” the Information Ministry accused certain Indian media outlets of running “toxic propaganda” to mislead the public. It further noted that the fabricated story had not been picked up by any credible international or regional news source a sign, it said, of its lack of authenticity.
“Unfortunately, this pattern of distortion has become routine for Indian godi media,” the ministry remarked. “Pakistan will not be distracted by such tactics. We will continue to speak the truth and stand by justice, peace, and the rights of the Palestinian people.”
Officials reiterated that Pakistan’s policy toward Israel remains unchanged one of non-recognition and full support for the people of Palestine and their right to self-determination.
