Israel and Pakistan holding discussions: Maariv

[SyedA]

Israel and Pakistan holding discussions: Maariv - TEL AVIV, Jan 20: Israel and Pakistan have been holding secret discussions for several weeks to re-establish relations between the two countries, reported Maariv newspaper today. The first ties would be regarding economic interests. Israeli Minister of Agriculture Israel Katz confirmed reports that he plans to visit Pakistan in March, the first official visit by an Israeli minister to Pakistan. Katz told Maariv that it is one of "many contacts which are developing". Pakistani authorities have been informed about his visit as part of a U.N. delegation. (DPA) (Posted @ 13:55 PST)


There has to be some truth to it

[SyedA]

Government denies inviting Israeli agriculture minister: ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Government today denied inviting Israeli Agriculture Minister Israel Katz to visit in March, contradicting Katz's earlier comments to Israeli radio. "The government of Pakistan has not invited the Israeli agriculture minister," foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan told AFP. Katz told Israeli military radio that he had been "officially invited to go to Pakistan" as part of a United Nations agricultural delegation, and that he had accepted. (AFP) (Posted @ 13:55 PST)

[Gaf]

Israel and Pakistan holding discussions: Maariv - TEL AVIV, Jan 20: Israel and Pakistan have been holding secret discussions for several weeks to re-establish relations between the two countries,

There has to be some truth to it

Since when was there even relations "originally" setup between the two, that are being "re-established" ??

[Sultan]

I expect they are referring to the covert relations we had with them during the Cold War.

[nasim]

I remember discussion on PAKDEF many years ago where there were claims that components on the F-7 were from israel? Is that true and would that be what constitutes the cold war covert relations?

[Sultan]

Not too sure about the F7 case but if I can recollect correctly the type of relations enjoyed by Israel and Pakistan at the time was either out of convenience, in pursuit of national interests, or as a result of indirect measures taken by one party that benefited the other party.


1. The supply of Soviet equipment captured by the Israelis, during the Arab Israeli wars, to the Afghan Mujahideen via ISI.

2. General Zia Ul Haqs role in the suppression of subversive Palestinian activities in Jordan (infamously known as Black September... I think).

[Munir]

Pakistan president tells Israeli newspaper he will be glad to visit
23-01-2004, 09:25


During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, held a long conversation with Israeli opposition leader, Shimon Peres, and even shook his hand, Maariv website reported on Friday.

The meeting resulted from a random encounter between the two figures. Musharraf recognized Peres among the hundreds of guests at the hotel’s main lobby, approached him, and warmly shook his hand, the Tel Aviv-based newspaper reported. Peres was the one to initiate the conversation, saying: “Mr. President, there are so many rumors about the relations being formed between our countries”.

Musharraf smiled heartily and confirmed the message. “We are undertaking great efforts for this to happen”, he said, but added: “You hold the responsibility to move forward with the Palestinians”.

At the end of the conversation, Peres invited Musharraf to visit Israel, with the Pakistani president replying: “Inshallah” (God willing) as the two parted warmly. Musharraf then turned to answer Maariv’s question about his intention to accept Peres’ invitation, saying that once ties between the two sides are normalized, he will be glad to visit Israel. (Albawaba.com)

[H Khan]

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf shook hands and conversed warmly with former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres in Davos on Thursday even though their countries have no diplomatic relations.

The two men met apparently by chance in public outside a VIP lounge at the annual World Economic Forum, where some 2,000 of the world's political and business leaders rub shoulders, sometimes breaking diplomatic taboos.

Pakistani officials looked on nervously as Musharraf smiled, had a prolonged handshake and spoke for about two minutes with Peres, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize for a 1993 Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement that has since fallen apart.

"We all look to your leadership," the veteran Israeli politician, now leader of the opposition Labour party, told the Pakistani leader. Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup and has engaged his country in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.

Suspected Islamic militants made two attempts to assassinate Musharraf last month.

Israel has been concerned that Pakistan, which has a nuclear bomb, may have shared nuclear weapons technology with some of its most implacable enemies, including Iran and Libya.



01/22/04 10:48 ET

[Hasib]

Nothing wrong with a hand shake. Lets keep the emotion out and take the next step. If Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim countries can have economic & diplomatic relations with India, then why not have same relations with Israel?

Hasib.

[SyedA]

thank you hasib, my sentiments as well and the Propher Muhammad (PBUH) also did trade with them.

[kamran]

No harm in this at all. Its called diplomacy.

[nasim]

If the palestinians and israelis would just make some headway at setting up some sort of truce and working towards an agreement, pakistan would be in a position to openly discuss diplomatic ties on some level. Now is not the time given the violence going on but it is the perfect time to set the stage for that sort of eventuality. Some sort of mutually agreeable program needs to be setup whereby pakistani aid to the palestinians can be disbursed so that the public in pakistan can accept contact between the two states. People who generally dont pay attention to politics would easily be swayed to join street protests and the like by opposed parties unless the bases for relations can be presented as a chance for pakistan to influence israel over the treatment of palestinians and the opportunity for pakistanis to help provide releif aswell.

The best way to get the ball rolling given any opportunity would be for pakistan and israel to agree on consular services whereby pakistanis could visit israeli controlled areas for religous reasons such as dome of the rock and other masjids. You have to start somewhere and this would probably be the most acceptable opener to the pakistani public.