Pak, Israel on way to establish diplomatic ties?

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Israel are reportedly engaged in a series of covert talks to establish diplomatic links.

According to The Nation, Pakistani authorities, including a prominent politician belonging to a religious party, have been holding talks with Israeli authorities, which took place in Paris and London recently.

Meanwhile, some analysts believe that Pakistan was seriously thinking about a diplomatic connection with Israel after Turkey recognized her.

“This is the first step towards eventual recognition of Israel,” the paper quoted an analyst, as saying.

They also pointed out two immediate benefits that Pakistan might be seeking from its change of policy.

By moving towards a formal recognition of Israel, Pakistan can thus gain entry into an elite club - currently comprising US, India and Israel - with common security perceptions vis-a-vis the Middle East and South Asia.

The second reason relates to Pakistan’s defence policy and weapons requirements, they said.

However, the Pakistan Foreign Office has vehemently denied that any such meeting had taken place.

FO spokesperson Abdul Basit said that Pakistan’s policy towards Israel was very much clear and it was using no backdoor channel to establish links with Israel.

Earlier, in 2005, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries had held talks for the first time.

However, following the meeting then-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had said that Pakistan would not recognise Israel until an independent Palestinian was established.

Musharraf had also said that eventually Pakistan would recognize Israel. (ANI)