Israeli-Pakistani relations
Encyclopedia
Israel–Pakistan relations refers to bilateral relations between Israel
and Pakistan
. Diplomatic ties have not been established and like many other Muslim countries, Pakistan does not recognize Israel. Due to Israel's key strategic support for India
, its relations with Pakistan have further deteriorated.
Ben Gurion
sent a telegram to Jinnah
— Pakistan's founder. However, Jinnah did not act quickly, and sent no particular response to Israel. Later in 1949, Israel's Foreign Ministry believed it might be possible to open legations in Karachi, then the capital of Pakistan, or at least to conduct trade openly. Initial contact between the ambassador (High Commissioner) of Pakistan in London and representatives of Israel and Jewish organizations was made in early 1950. The Pakistani government was asked to issue passage permits to India for a few hundred Jews who had been forced to leave Afghanistan and wanted to emigrate to Israel. The Pakistan government refused to allow them to transit through Pakistan and the Jews left through Iran.
In 1952, Sir Zafarullah Khan, Pakistan's Foreign minister
, promoted his hardline policies toward Israel, and pressed his policies toward the unity of Arab states. Thus, Khan's policy had worked to built strategic ties with Arab states. Furthermore, hardline policies against each other causes further political tensions.
that apparently were meant for the Arabs. Also, it became known that Pakistan bought three planes in Italy for the Egyptians. The Pakistan Air-Force in the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars, Pakistani pilots flying Jordanian and Syrian planes downed some Israeli planes,whereas in the 1982 battle for Beirut
between Israel and the PLO, fifty Pakistani volunteers serving in the PLO were taken prisoner by Israel. After the 1973 war, Pakistan and the PLO signed an agreement for training PLO officers in Pakistani military institutions.
According to Time
, French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy
, has even claimed that Daniel Pearl
, an American-Israeli, was assassinated by elements with backing from Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence
, (though there has been no verifiable evidence presented) over his alleged role in gathering information linking ISI and Al-Qaeda
. According to other reports from BBC
and Time, Pakistani militants beheaded him because of their belief that Daniel Pearl was an Israeli Mossad
spy agent under the cover of being an American journalist.
In addition to these, Pakistan religious political parties and militant groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami
, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
and Lashkar-e-Taiba
fiercely oppose any relationship with Israel, and have repeatedly called Israel as the enemy of Islam and Pakistan.
Pakistan forbids its citizens from going to Israel, and all Pakistani passports bear the inscription "This passport is valid for all countries of the World except Israel".
and 1971
, India demanded Israel supply arms and ammunition. Pakistani requests for fresh weapons systems from the US are also fiercely resisted by Israeli, as well as Indian lobbyists. A former pro-Israeli Jewish Indian army officer, Lieutenant General J. F. R. Jacob is also celebrated in Israel for his role in the 1971 war against Pakistan.
In the 1980s, Israel planned a possible attack on Pakistan's bomb capacity. However, due to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
, it became aware of a possible attack prior to any attack occurring. India was uncomfortable with the possibility of a nuclear fallout and corrupting relations with other Muslim states. Israeli aircraft were surprised by the presence of an alerted Pakistan Air Force
fighter jets and therefore pulled back.
and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq allowed ISI to established a secret directorate to deal with Israel's Mossad. Intelligence offices were sat up at both country's embassy located at Washington D.C. where Mossad and ISI, with CIA, ran a decade year long anti-soviet Operation, codename Operation Cyclone
. Under this operation, Israel proliferated soviet made weapons to Mujaheddin, and some Israeli weapons to Pakistan Army.
Wikileaks
, in a disclosed United States diplomatic cable revealed that ISI had secretly passed on intelligence data to Mossad
. ISI had intercepted information that Israeli civilians may be targeted in a terrorist attack in India during September and November 2008 (following the 26th November Mumbai Terror Attacks that amongst its targets included a Jewish centre - the Nariman House). It was reported that Pakistan's Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha
was in direct contact with Israel's Mossad.
Israel and Pakistan were both allied to the United States and the western bloc during the Cold War
, while India was allied to the Soviet Union
's bloc. India supported the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and supported the pro Soviet Afghan leader Mohammad Najibullah
. Pakistan and Israel opposed the Soviet invasion, with Israel supplying arms to Pakistan to give to the mujahideen. Israel had captured the weapons from Palestinian groups like the PLO, who were supplied by the Soviets. Therefore, the Soviet made weaponsn which Israel stole and sent to Pakistan could not be traced back to America.
, including Arab countries. Although the governments of Israel and Pakistan do not officially have relations with each other, there have been a number of contacts between the two states. According to the Jang news, there continue to be multiple media reports that in the past many powerful Pakistani personalities and figures have visited Israel
.
teamed up with Pakistani tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
to play in the 3rd round doubles. The Israeli and Pakistani team, with its bravely enlightened but controversial pairing of an Israeli and a Pakistani, made headline news.
Dan Kiesel
a German-Israeli served as the Pakistan cricket team's trainer and physiotherapist, and lived openly with his Israeli identity in Lahore
.
was a well-known Pakistani Zionist who openly expressed his support of Israel in many of his columns and writings throughout his journalistic career.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Diplomatic ties have not been established and like many other Muslim countries, Pakistan does not recognize Israel. Due to Israel's key strategic support for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, its relations with Pakistan have further deteriorated.
Early contacts
An attempt to established diplomatic relationship with Pakistan and Israel was made in 1947, when Israel's first Prime ministerPrime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Ben Gurion
Ben Gurion
Ben Gurion can refer to the following persons:* Nicodemus ben Gurion, a Biblical figure, probably a rich Jewish member of the Sanhedrin that felt sympathetic to Jesus Christ...
sent a telegram to Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
— Pakistan's founder. However, Jinnah did not act quickly, and sent no particular response to Israel. Later in 1949, Israel's Foreign Ministry believed it might be possible to open legations in Karachi, then the capital of Pakistan, or at least to conduct trade openly. Initial contact between the ambassador (High Commissioner) of Pakistan in London and representatives of Israel and Jewish organizations was made in early 1950. The Pakistani government was asked to issue passage permits to India for a few hundred Jews who had been forced to leave Afghanistan and wanted to emigrate to Israel. The Pakistan government refused to allow them to transit through Pakistan and the Jews left through Iran.
In 1952, Sir Zafarullah Khan, Pakistan's Foreign minister
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current Foreign Minister is Hina Rabbani Khar who took office as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 11 February 2011, and as full Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 July, 2011...
, promoted his hardline policies toward Israel, and pressed his policies toward the unity of Arab states. Thus, Khan's policy had worked to built strategic ties with Arab states. Furthermore, hardline policies against each other causes further political tensions.
Political tensions
Pakistan hostility towards Israel
During Israel's War of Independence (1947–1949), Israel's diplomatic mission in Washington received information that Pakistan was trying to provide military assistance to the Arabs, including rumors that a Pakistani battalion would be sent to Palestine to fight alongside them. Pakistan bought 250,000 rifles in CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
that apparently were meant for the Arabs. Also, it became known that Pakistan bought three planes in Italy for the Egyptians. The Pakistan Air-Force in the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars, Pakistani pilots flying Jordanian and Syrian planes downed some Israeli planes,whereas in the 1982 battle for Beirut
Israeli invasion of Lebanon
The Israeli invasion of Lebanon could refer to:*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1978 South Lebanon conflict;*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1982 Lebanon War;*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1993 Lebanon War;...
between Israel and the PLO, fifty Pakistani volunteers serving in the PLO were taken prisoner by Israel. After the 1973 war, Pakistan and the PLO signed an agreement for training PLO officers in Pakistani military institutions.
According to Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French public intellectual, philosopher and journalist. Often referred to today, in France, simply as BHL, he was one of the leaders of the "Nouveaux Philosophes" movement in 1976.-Early life:...
, has even claimed that Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda.At the time of his kidnapping, Pearl served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, and was based in Mumbai, India. He went to Pakistan as part of an investigation into the alleged links between...
, an American-Israeli, was assassinated by elements with backing from Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
, (though there has been no verifiable evidence presented) over his alleged role in gathering information linking ISI and Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
. According to other reports from BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Time, Pakistani militants beheaded him because of their belief that Daniel Pearl was an Israeli Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
spy agent under the cover of being an American journalist.
In addition to these, Pakistan religious political parties and militant groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008...
and Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
fiercely oppose any relationship with Israel, and have repeatedly called Israel as the enemy of Islam and Pakistan.
Pakistan forbids its citizens from going to Israel, and all Pakistani passports bear the inscription "This passport is valid for all countries of the World except Israel".
Israeli hostility towards Pakistan
During the Cold War, India maintained no diplomatic relations with Israel. India allied itself with the Arab states and the Soviet Union. India also voted in favor of a UN resolution in 1975 calling Zionism a racist policy. They only established small discreet contacts with Israel, like during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
and 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, India demanded Israel supply arms and ammunition. Pakistani requests for fresh weapons systems from the US are also fiercely resisted by Israeli, as well as Indian lobbyists. A former pro-Israeli Jewish Indian army officer, Lieutenant General J. F. R. Jacob is also celebrated in Israel for his role in the 1971 war against Pakistan.
In the 1980s, Israel planned a possible attack on Pakistan's bomb capacity. However, due to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
, it became aware of a possible attack prior to any attack occurring. India was uncomfortable with the possibility of a nuclear fallout and corrupting relations with other Muslim states. Israeli aircraft were surprised by the presence of an alerted Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
fighter jets and therefore pulled back.
Pakistan-Israel intelligence alliance
Despite the hostilities against each other, both countries are reported to have directorates to deal with each other at an intelligence level. The history of Pakistan-Israel intelligence cooperation dated back to early 1980s, when Pakistan's PresidentPresident of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
and Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq allowed ISI to established a secret directorate to deal with Israel's Mossad. Intelligence offices were sat up at both country's embassy located at Washington D.C. where Mossad and ISI, with CIA, ran a decade year long anti-soviet Operation, codename Operation Cyclone
Operation Cyclone
Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm, train, and finance the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989...
. Under this operation, Israel proliferated soviet made weapons to Mujaheddin, and some Israeli weapons to Pakistan Army.
Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
, in a disclosed United States diplomatic cable revealed that ISI had secretly passed on intelligence data to Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
. ISI had intercepted information that Israeli civilians may be targeted in a terrorist attack in India during September and November 2008 (following the 26th November Mumbai Terror Attacks that amongst its targets included a Jewish centre - the Nariman House). It was reported that Pakistan's Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha
Ahmad Shuja Pasha
Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha , HI is the current Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence , Pakistan's premier intelligence service since October 2008. He was due to reach the age of superannuation on 18 March 2010, but has received two extensions. His tenure was extended by a...
was in direct contact with Israel's Mossad.
Israel and Pakistan were both allied to the United States and the western bloc during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, while India was allied to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's bloc. India supported the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and supported the pro Soviet Afghan leader Mohammad Najibullah
Mohammad Najibullah
Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai , originally merely Najibullah, was the fourth and last President of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. He is also considered the second President of the Republic of Afghanistan.-Early years:Najibullah was born in August 1947 to the Ahmadzai...
. Pakistan and Israel opposed the Soviet invasion, with Israel supplying arms to Pakistan to give to the mujahideen. Israel had captured the weapons from Palestinian groups like the PLO, who were supplied by the Soviets. Therefore, the Soviet made weaponsn which Israel stole and sent to Pakistan could not be traced back to America.
Diplomatic
Some Israeli leaders believe that should diplomatic relations with Pakistan be established then Pakistan could serve as a bridge between Israel and the Muslim worldMuslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
, including Arab countries. Although the governments of Israel and Pakistan do not officially have relations with each other, there have been a number of contacts between the two states. According to the Jang news, there continue to be multiple media reports that in the past many powerful Pakistani personalities and figures have visited Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Sporting ties
During the 2002 Wimbledon Open, Israeli tennis player Amir HadadAmir Hadad
Amir Hadad is a professional tennis player.His highest singles ATP ranking was # 180, in 2003. His highest doubles ranking was # 87, also in 2003.-Tennis career:He turned pro in 1995....
teamed up with Pakistani tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi is a professional tennis player from Pakistan. He is currently Pakistan's top player. A top 10 doubles player, his highest Singles Race ranking is 103rd and is the former Asian No. 3...
to play in the 3rd round doubles. The Israeli and Pakistani team, with its bravely enlightened but controversial pairing of an Israeli and a Pakistani, made headline news.
Dan Kiesel
Dan Kiesel
Dan Kiesel is an Israeli-born sports physiotherapist and osteopath who has worked as a trainer and physiotherapist for the national cricket teams of many countries, most notably Sri Lanka and Pakistan.-Education:...
a German-Israeli served as the Pakistan cricket team's trainer and physiotherapist, and lived openly with his Israeli identity in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
Zionism
Tashbih SayyedTashbih Sayyed
Tashbih Sayyed was a Shia Pakistani-American scholar, journalist, and author and was the Editor in Chief of Our Times, Pakistan Today, and In Review. Tashbih Sayyed worked from 1967-1980 for the Pakistan Television Corporation. In 1981, he emigrated to the United States...
was a well-known Pakistani Zionist who openly expressed his support of Israel in many of his columns and writings throughout his journalistic career.
Timeline
- In 1947, media reports the first contact between Pakistan and Israel were made in early days of Pakistan's independence, when Israeli Prime minister David Ben-GurionDavid Ben-Gurion' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
sent a secret message by phone to the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
to recognize Israel when it declares independence, which happened in 1948. But Jinnah did not give any particular response to IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. - In 1949 Philippine AirlinesPhilippine AirlinesPhilippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
became the only carrier to establish a direct air link between Karachi and Lod (Tel Aviv) as a sector on their Manila-London service, however it is not known whether they had traffic rights between the two, allowing passengers and cargo to be flown on the route. - Initial contact between the ambassador (high commissioner) of Pakistan in London and representatives of Israel and Jewish organizations was made in early 1950, to open legations in Karachi, or at least to conduct trade openly.
- A meeting was took place in New York between Zafrullah Khan and Abba Eban, then Israel's ambassador to the United States, on 14 January 1953 to discuss Israeli-Pakistani relations.
- In the 1980s, during the Soviet-Afghan War, CIA along with MI5MI5The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
, MossadMossadThe Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
and Pakistani-based intelligence ISIInter-Services IntelligenceThe Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
, ran a covert operation named Operation CycloneOperation CycloneOperation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm, train, and finance the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989...
in AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to remove the Soviets from the country. During the operation Israel and Pakistan also had high-level dealings through their intelligence agencies which included military dealings. Israel also supported Pakistan by providing Soviet weapons to Pakistan during 1980s. - In 1981, after Israel's attack on Iraq's Osiraq nuclear reactors in the 1980s, a similar plan to attack Pakistan's Kahuta Research facility by using Indian airfields was foiled, when the Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
got alerted beforehand, and took preventative measures - In 1993, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
, along with her then-Director-General of Military Operations, Pervez MusharrafPervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
, had intensified the ISI's liaison with Mossad in 1993. Bhutto is said to have had a secret meeting in New York with a senior Israeli emissary, who flew to the U.S. during her visit to Washington, D.C. in 1995. - In 2001, Pakistan via ISI, passed intelligence about the Gulf States and the nuclear ambitions of Iran and Libya, whose programs Pakistani scientists had helped to build.
- In 2003, PresidentPresidentA president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Pervez MusharrafPervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
raised the issue of possible diplomatic relations with Israel, - In 2005, the foreign ministerForeign ministerA Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
s of the two countries held talks for the first time. However, following the meeting Musharraf said Pakistan will not recognise the state of Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established, - although, according to Musharraf, Pakistan will eventually recognize Israel. - In 2010, according to a unconfirmed "leaked" American diplomatic cablesUnited States diplomatic cables leakThe United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates,...
, from October 2009, head of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja PashaAhmad Shuja PashaLieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha , HI is the current Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence , Pakistan's premier intelligence service since October 2008. He was due to reach the age of superannuation on 18 March 2010, but has received two extensions. His tenure was extended by a...
provided intelligence on potential terrorist attacks in India to IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
through Washington. According to the cable, "He had been in direct touch with the Israelis on possible threats against Israeli targets in India". A few weeks before the cable was written, the Israeli Counter-Terror Bureau had issued a travel advisory warning of possible attacks against Israeli sites in India.
See also
- International recognition of IsraelInternational recognition of IsraelThe recognition of Israel in the international community remains an outstanding issue of the Arab–Israeli conflict. Pursuant to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which provided for the establishment of a Jewish state, Israel declared its independence at midnight on 14 May 1948...
- Pakistanis in IsraelPakistanis in IsraelPakistanis in Israel are a small minority, numbering between 1,000 and 2,000. The majority of these Pakistanis are originally Jews who migrated from Karachi to Israel, and formed a small community in the city of Ramla. The Pakistanis were, by ethnicity, Baghdadi and Marathi-speaking although a...
- History of the Jews in PakistanHistory of the Jews in PakistanJews are a small religious group in Pakistan. Various estimates suggest that there were about 1,000 Jews living in Karachi at the beginning of the twentieth century. A smaller community of Jews also lived in Peshawar. Many of these are Baghdadi Jews, Bukharian Jews, Mizrahi Jews mainly from...
- Pakistan–Palestine relationsPakistan–Palestine relationsRelations between Pakistan and Palestine have always been strong, brotherly and politically well-built. Pakistan fully supports the proposal of the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Due to Pakistan's pro-Palestinian stance, bilateral relations between Pakistan and Israel have...
Further reading
- P. R. Kumaraswamy, "Beyond the Veil: Israel-Pakistan Relations," Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University, Memorandum no. 55, March 2000
- Moshe Yegar, "Pakistan and Israel," Jewish Political Studies Review 19:3-4 (Fall 2007)
- P. R. Kumaraswamy, "The Strangely Parallel Careers of Israel and Pakistan," Middle East Quarterly, June 1997, pp. 31-39
- Rashid Ahmad Khan, "Pakistan's Policy Towards Arab-Israel Conflict (1948-1973)," PhD thesis, University of Punjab, Feb 1991.
- Israel: Israel in the international arena By Efraim Karsh, Taylor & Francis, 2004, p 249-267.
- Paul Rockower, "Dancing in the Dark: Pulling the Veil off Israel-Pakistan Relations", Moshe Ma'oz (ed.), Sussex, 2010, p 186-214.