“Pak was created on Islamic principles”: Arfa Khanum Sherwani
Indian journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani said that Pakistan, as a country founded on Islamic principles, should not recognise Israel. Her remarks came amid ongoing discussions surrounding the Abraham Accords and the possibility of Pakistan establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.
Sherwani argued that Pakistan’s foundation as an ideological Islamic state makes recognition of Israel incompatible with the principles on which the country was created. Her comments quickly gained attention online, drawing strong reactions and intense discussion across social media platforms.
Critics accused Sherwani of taking a contradictory position, arguing that while she has consistently advocated secularism in India, she appeared to support a religion-based national identity in the case of Pakistan. Supporters, however, defended her remarks as an observation about Pakistan’s historical and ideological foundations rather than an endorsement of theocratic politics.
The controversy also coincided with recent remarks by Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, who reiterated that Islamabad would not recognise Israel, saying such a move would be contrary to Pakistan’s ideological beliefs.
The discussion has since expanded into broader conversations around nationalism, secularism, religious identity, and the contrasting constitutional foundations of India and Pakistan, with opinions remaining sharply divided online.
