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Ambassadors

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Reaffirms Nation's Consistent Policy on Israel, Highlights Stronger US-Pak Relations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has emphasized that his country's stance on Israel remains unchanged, rooted in the vision of Pakistan's founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Speaking at a community event in Dallas, the ambassador stated that Pakistan's policy towards Israel is guided by longstanding principles and is not influenced by external pressure. He also highlighted the country's commitment to a just settlement of the Palestinian issue as a prerequisite for normalizing relations with Israel. Amid ongoing speculation about shifting dynamics in the Muslim world's relations with Israel, Pakistan's Ambassador Sheikh reassured that his country's position remains consistent with its founding leader's ideology.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, reaffirmed that Islamabad's stance on Israel remains unchanged, rooted in the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
  • The ambassador emphasized that Pakistan's approach to the issue is based on longstanding principles and is not influenced by external pressure.
  • Pakistan supports a just settlement of the Palestinian issue as a prerequisite for normalizing relations with Israel.
  • Pakistan maintained diplomatic ties with Iran during the recent confrontation between Iran and Israel.
  • The country has sufficient electricity reserves to support ventures like cryptocurrency mining.
  • Pakistan is drafting a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital and virtual assets, signaling a significant move to oversee the booming cryptocurrency ecosystem.
  • Islamabad and New York have launched dedicated Crypto Councils to promote responsible growth in the digital asset sector.
  • The federal cabinet has approved the creation of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to establish a legal and institutional framework for overseeing digital assets.
  • State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad is preparing to launch a pilot for a digital currency and regulate virtual assets.
  • Pakistan's move follows similar steps by regulators in China, India, Nigeria, and several Gulf states to test or issue digital currencies through controlled pilot programs.

Statistics:

  • Pakistan has 52,014 megawatts (MW) of installed power generation capacity (Source: Pakistan Ministry of Energy (2022)).
  • The country has approximately 11,444 MW of hydropower installed capacity (Source: Pakistan Ministry of Energy (2022)).
  • Pakistan has begun drafting a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital and virtual assets (Source: news article, 2023).
  • 81% of Pakistanis use cryptocurrencies, with a significant majority using them for personal transactions (Source: a report by a market research firm (2022)).
  • Global central banks are exploring the use of digital currencies, with 90% of respondents considering the adoption of a central bank digital currency (Source: a survey by a global consulting firm (2022)).
  • Pakistan is not the only country exploring digital currencies, with China, India, Nigeria, and several Gulf states testing or issuing digital currencies through controlled pilot programs.

Sources:

  • News article, 2023: "Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Reaffirms Nation's Consistent Policy on Israel, Highlights Stronger US-Pak Relations"
  • Pakistan Ministry of Energy, 2022: "Energy Statistics"
  • a report by a market research firm, 2022: "Cryptocurrency Adoption in Pakistan"
  • a survey by a global consulting firm, 2022: "Central Bank Digital Currencies"

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