Islamabad, October 31, 2025: Pakistan has strongly rejected Indian media reports alleging that the country has removed the clause from its passport restricting travel to Israel, calling the claims “baseless and laughable.”
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said no such move had been discussed or considered by the government.
“The reports circulating in Indian media are completely baseless and laughable. Pakistan has never recognised Israel, and there is absolutely no question of military cooperation,” the ministry said. “Our support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination remains firm and principled.”
Indian channel Republic TV had claimed that Pakistan had removed the line on its passport declaring it “not valid for travel to Israel.” The channel further alleged that Pakistan was preparing to send 20,000 troops to Gaza under the supervision of Western countries and Israel — a claim Islamabad has already denied.
The ministry dismissed these allegations as “completely false,” clarifying that no discussions or deals took place with the CIA, Israel, or any other country regarding troop deployment.
Neither the Foreign Office nor the Pakistan military has authorised or announced any mission to Gaza.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports both confirmed that the long-standing clause on the Pakistani passport remains unchanged.
“This passport is valid for all countries of the world except Israel.”
Officials reaffirmed that Pakistan’s position on Israel has been consistent and “crystal clear” since the country’s inception.
The information ministry noted that Republic TV’s story was not carried by any credible regional or international media outlet, which it said exposes the fabricated nature of the claim.
“Unfortunately, this kind of toxic propaganda has become routine for Indian godi media,” the statement added. “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 announced earlier this month that Pakistan’s passports are being revamped with modern security features to curb forgery and misuse.
The new passports will include the mother’s name and feature visa pages showcasing national landmarks, reflecting Pakistan’s cultural diversity. Officials clarified that these updates follow principles of “modernity and harmonisation” — with no change to the passport’s format or clauses.
Printing of the upgraded passports has begun following approval from the Ministry of Interior, the directorate confirmed.
