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Pak not to recognise Israel until all Muslim nations do so
Islamabad, June 22: Amidst strong opposition from Islamists, a top aide of President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan would not recognise Israel until all the Muslim countries decided to do so.
Islamabad, June 22: Amidst strong opposition from Islamists, a top aide of President Pervez Musharraf has said that Pakistan would not recognise Israel until all the Muslim countries decided to do so.
"Pakistan would not be recognising Israel until the Muslim countries decided so," said Tariq Aziz, who was till recently secretary to Musharraf and later secretary of the military-dominated National Security Council.
He made the statement in Lahore yesterday following threats by Muthahida Majalis Amal (MMA) to go on a country-wide agitation if Pervez Musharraf took steps to recognise Israel during his US tour.
The Israel issue acquired prominence after Musharraf, before his four-nation tour, told a TV channel that Pakistan weighed pros and cons and also would consult the Muslim countries before a decision was taken on the matter. "If Pakistan could have diplomatic relations with India after three wars, why not with Israel," Musharraf had asked.
Though Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali later strongly denied that the government made moves to recognise Israel, information minister Sheikh Rashid has been saying that Pakistan remained at the receiving end of a sustained campaign by the Jewish lobby especially in the United States, which controlled the media.
He also alleged that India made "effective use of Jewish lobby" to corner Pakistan.
Bureau Report
He made the statement in Lahore yesterday following threats by Muthahida Majalis Amal (MMA) to go on a country-wide agitation if Pervez Musharraf took steps to recognise Israel during his US tour.
The Israel issue acquired prominence after Musharraf, before his four-nation tour, told a TV channel that Pakistan weighed pros and cons and also would consult the Muslim countries before a decision was taken on the matter. "If Pakistan could have diplomatic relations with India after three wars, why not with Israel," Musharraf had asked.
Though Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali later strongly denied that the government made moves to recognise Israel, information minister Sheikh Rashid has been saying that Pakistan remained at the receiving end of a sustained campaign by the Jewish lobby especially in the United States, which controlled the media.
He also alleged that India made "effective use of Jewish lobby" to corner Pakistan.
Bureau Report