A rchive Date
[ 30-06-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Pakistan ]
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[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=312742&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y
Pakistani president: We must weigh opening ties with Israel
By Yossi Melman
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday said that his country should seriously consider recognizing Israel and establishing diplomatic relations with it. The debate should be serious. There should be no emotionalism of the extremists."
"What is our dispute (with Israel)?" he continued. "We should think. I have been saying: `Should we be more Catholic than the pope or more pious than the pope or more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves?'
Is this the right attitude or should there be some change in it? There should be national consensus on it."
Speaking in an interview with the private Geo Television station upon his return from a two-week tour of Europe and the United States, Musharraf said: "This is the responsibility of the nation to decide. This should be seriously thought over. The media should have an open debate on this.
Musharraf had made similar comments before setting off on his tour, but Israel interpreted these as a largely meaningless gesture meant to shore up his image in the U.S. Yesterday's remarks, however, were both far more forceful than his previous comments and were made after President George Bush had already publicly promised him a $3 million aid package. As a result, a senior Israeli source said, "his intention truly appears to be serious, not aimed merely at conciliating U.S. public opinion."
Nevertheless, Israeli officials stressed, Musharraf is unlikely to follow through on this opening unless he musters significant public backing for such a step.
Musharraf's remarks yesterday were preceded by the visit to Israel last week of a Pakistani businessman who is considered one of the president's close associates. The businessman was apparently sent to "test the waters" as to whether Israel, which has close ties with Pakistan's traditional foe, India, would be interested in relations with Pakistan as well.
Israel currently has no ties of any kind with Pakistan, and Pakistani passports even state that they are valid for entry into any country but Israel. Israeli sources attributed Musharraf's apparent change of heart regarding ties with Israel to his new strategic alliance with the U.S. and the recent thawing of relations between India and China. China has always backed Pakistan against India, but Musharraf fears the new Sino-Indian rapprochement could leave him increasingly isolated.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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