Pakistan Denies Indian Media Claims of Removing Israel Travel Restriction from its Passport

Pakistan has strongly refuted claims propagated by Indian media alleging that the country had removed the clause in its passport restricting travel to Israel.

In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting labeled the reports as “completely baseless and laughable,” emphasizing that no such decision has been discussed or considered by the government.

The controversy originated when Indian news outlet Republic TV asserted that Pakistan had eliminated the clause in its passport stating it is “not valid for travel to Israel.” The channel further alleged that Pakistan was preparing to deploy 20,000 troops to Gaza under the supervision of Western nations and Israel – an allegation Islamabad has categorically denied.

The Ministry of Information clarified that reports of sending 20,000 troops to Gaza are entirely false and no discussions or arrangements were made with either the CIA or Israel. Furthermore, neither the Foreign Office nor the military has authorized or announced any mission to Gaza.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Pakistani passport remains unchanged. The longstanding clause continues to be clearly printed, stating:

“This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.”

The information ministry underscored that Pakistan’s position on Israel has always been unequivocal. “Pakistan has never recognized Israel, and there is absolutely no question of military cooperation,” the statement emphasized. “Our support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is firm and principled; it has never wavered,” it added.

In addition, the ministry highlighted that Republic TV’s story was not reported by any credible regional or international media, further illustrating the claim’s fabricated and unserious nature. Describing the channel’s reporting as part of a “habit of spreading lies,” the ministry criticized what it termed the routine “toxic propaganda” by Indian media.

The statement concluded: “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.”

Separately, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports had announced earlier this month that Pakistani passports are being upgraded with modern security features aimed at preventing forgery and misuse. The revamped passports will include the mother’s name and visa pages featuring images of national landmarks to reflect cultural diversity. These changes are part of broader principles of “modernity and harmonization,” and no other alterations to the passport’s format have been made. Printing of the upgraded passports has commenced following approval by the Ministry of Interior.

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