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NEW YORK - Pakistans elected government has not followed up on the contacts established by former President Pervez Musharrafs govt with the Jewish State, a senior Israel diplomat said on Thursday. Sadly, none, was how Mark Sofer, Israels Ambassador to India, reacted
when asked whether any contacts had taken place since Musharrafs ouster. Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israel met in Istanbul in 2005 and Musharraf addressed a prominent Jewish organisation in New York the following year. Ambassador Sofer also said Pakistan could benefit a lot, especially in agriculture field, by establishing normal diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel was ready to share its vast experience in the agricultural field with Pakistan and provide the technology Israeli engineers have developed to modernise agriculture and boost food production after two countries have normalised their relations, he said. The news briefing was arranged by the US-based The Israel Project, a non-governmental organisation with offices in the US and Israel, that works to improve Israels image. It was the first time that US-based Pakistani journalists were invited to an Israeli event. Sofer, who was responding to questions after dwelling on the burgeoning Indo-Israeli relationship, especially talked about drip-technology, an irrigation method which saves water and fertiliser by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. Several countries, including India, he said, were using this modern method of irrigation with dramatic results: huge benefits to the farmers and help the countries achieve self-sufficiency in food.
With water scarce and food prices rapidly going up, he said the drip irrigation system could help Pakistan enormously in bringing prosperity to its rural population and achieve food security.
The Israeli envoy said he could not understand why Pakistan doesnt establish diplomatic ties with Israel when it maintains an Embassy in India, with which it has had most difficult relations, noting that Pakistan maintains relations with all countries, except Israel. We have relations with many Islamic countries, including Arab nations, so whats the problem, he added.
In addition, there was no issue or conflict between Pakistan and Israel, he said, adding, there was no animosity in Israel towards Pakistan. Unlike the tirade against Israel in a section of the Pakistani Press, the Israeli Press doesnt indulge in that of mud-slinging against Pakistan, he said. We have goodwill for the people of Pakistan, Sofer said. We salute and wish Pakistans success in combating extremists, he said.Why is there no dialogue between Israel and Pakistan. Dialogue process could help remove many understandings between the two countries.
---------- Post added at 11:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------
No ill will against Pakistan, says Israeli diplomat
NEW YORK: Israel has shared its expertise with India in agriculture and water management and its relations with India have gone into a new orbit in nine years since 1992 when India established diplomatic relations with Israel.
Pakistan too can benefit from Israel’s expertise in agriculture, water management and many other areas to boost its economy. The ball is in Pakistan’s court, Israeli ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, told The News in a formal interview here after his hour-long off-the-record briefing to a select group of eight Indian, Pakistani and American journalists in New York. When asked about the Mossad agents actively engaged in Occupied Kashmir against Pakistan, the Israeli ambassador rejected such reports.
“The kind of articles we read in certain Pakistani Press from time to time is utter non-sense, unadulterated rubbish. There is no such activity. We have no will for such activity. We have no ill will whatsoever against Pakistani people. We hope that the Pakistani government will crack down hard against those, who enter India and kill our Jewish and Israeli people as well (as it happened in Mumbai). I insist on that; but it does not mean that we are working with the Indians or any one else against Pakistan. We have no animosity against Pakistan.” He made it clear that his country’s close relations with India are not directed against any third country. “Yes we are against terrorism and we want an end to terrorism. But we harbour no hostility against Pakistan.”
He also referred to some Muslim countries, which have recognised Israel and have established diplomatic relations wit Tel Aviv. “Many Muslim countries in Central Asia, Africa, even in the Middle-east and other regions have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The ball is in Pakistan’s court. The day Pakistan says it wants closer relations with Israel we will be ready to respond. Our close relationship with India is a fact and it is on the table. We will not compromise this relationship for anyone else. These relations are not aimed against any third country.” He was reminded of the gestures made during the rule of Pervez Musharraf, who addressed the dinner hosted by the American Jewish Congress in New York and also quietly invited some American Jewish leaders to Islamabad while his foreign minister met his Israeli counterpart in Turkey.
The Israeli diplomat said meetings and gestures cannot be taken as friendliness. “We are not saying Pakistan is killing Jews. We harbour no hostility towards Pakistan. It is Pakistan and the Pakistani media which is anti-Israel. So, the ball is in Pakistan’s court.” He refused to talk on the issue of some Pakistani leaders meeting Israelis privately and also avoided discussing Musharrf’s ‘friendly’ gestures. Musharaf had once commented, “We (Pakistanis) should not be more Palestinians than the Palestinians themselves.”
He was also asked about Israeli designs against Pakistan’s nuclear programme as a common objective of India and Israel. Ambassador Mark Foser categorically denied any such covert Israeli plan against Pakistani nuclear installations. “Israel is not a fly-by-night state. We look at issues in terms of reality and moderation,” he added.
NEW YORK - Pakistans elected government has not followed up on the contacts established by former President Pervez Musharrafs govt with the Jewish State, a senior Israel diplomat said on Thursday. Sadly, none, was how Mark Sofer, Israels Ambassador to India, reacted
when asked whether any contacts had taken place since Musharrafs ouster. Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israel met in Istanbul in 2005 and Musharraf addressed a prominent Jewish organisation in New York the following year. Ambassador Sofer also said Pakistan could benefit a lot, especially in agriculture field, by establishing normal diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel was ready to share its vast experience in the agricultural field with Pakistan and provide the technology Israeli engineers have developed to modernise agriculture and boost food production after two countries have normalised their relations, he said. The news briefing was arranged by the US-based The Israel Project, a non-governmental organisation with offices in the US and Israel, that works to improve Israels image. It was the first time that US-based Pakistani journalists were invited to an Israeli event. Sofer, who was responding to questions after dwelling on the burgeoning Indo-Israeli relationship, especially talked about drip-technology, an irrigation method which saves water and fertiliser by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. Several countries, including India, he said, were using this modern method of irrigation with dramatic results: huge benefits to the farmers and help the countries achieve self-sufficiency in food.
With water scarce and food prices rapidly going up, he said the drip irrigation system could help Pakistan enormously in bringing prosperity to its rural population and achieve food security.
The Israeli envoy said he could not understand why Pakistan doesnt establish diplomatic ties with Israel when it maintains an Embassy in India, with which it has had most difficult relations, noting that Pakistan maintains relations with all countries, except Israel. We have relations with many Islamic countries, including Arab nations, so whats the problem, he added.
In addition, there was no issue or conflict between Pakistan and Israel, he said, adding, there was no animosity in Israel towards Pakistan. Unlike the tirade against Israel in a section of the Pakistani Press, the Israeli Press doesnt indulge in that of mud-slinging against Pakistan, he said. We have goodwill for the people of Pakistan, Sofer said. We salute and wish Pakistans success in combating extremists, he said.Why is there no dialogue between Israel and Pakistan. Dialogue process could help remove many understandings between the two countries.
---------- Post added at 11:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------
No ill will against Pakistan, says Israeli diplomat
NEW YORK: Israel has shared its expertise with India in agriculture and water management and its relations with India have gone into a new orbit in nine years since 1992 when India established diplomatic relations with Israel.
Pakistan too can benefit from Israel’s expertise in agriculture, water management and many other areas to boost its economy. The ball is in Pakistan’s court, Israeli ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, told The News in a formal interview here after his hour-long off-the-record briefing to a select group of eight Indian, Pakistani and American journalists in New York. When asked about the Mossad agents actively engaged in Occupied Kashmir against Pakistan, the Israeli ambassador rejected such reports.
“The kind of articles we read in certain Pakistani Press from time to time is utter non-sense, unadulterated rubbish. There is no such activity. We have no will for such activity. We have no ill will whatsoever against Pakistani people. We hope that the Pakistani government will crack down hard against those, who enter India and kill our Jewish and Israeli people as well (as it happened in Mumbai). I insist on that; but it does not mean that we are working with the Indians or any one else against Pakistan. We have no animosity against Pakistan.” He made it clear that his country’s close relations with India are not directed against any third country. “Yes we are against terrorism and we want an end to terrorism. But we harbour no hostility against Pakistan.”
He also referred to some Muslim countries, which have recognised Israel and have established diplomatic relations wit Tel Aviv. “Many Muslim countries in Central Asia, Africa, even in the Middle-east and other regions have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The ball is in Pakistan’s court. The day Pakistan says it wants closer relations with Israel we will be ready to respond. Our close relationship with India is a fact and it is on the table. We will not compromise this relationship for anyone else. These relations are not aimed against any third country.” He was reminded of the gestures made during the rule of Pervez Musharraf, who addressed the dinner hosted by the American Jewish Congress in New York and also quietly invited some American Jewish leaders to Islamabad while his foreign minister met his Israeli counterpart in Turkey.
The Israeli diplomat said meetings and gestures cannot be taken as friendliness. “We are not saying Pakistan is killing Jews. We harbour no hostility towards Pakistan. It is Pakistan and the Pakistani media which is anti-Israel. So, the ball is in Pakistan’s court.” He refused to talk on the issue of some Pakistani leaders meeting Israelis privately and also avoided discussing Musharrf’s ‘friendly’ gestures. Musharaf had once commented, “We (Pakistanis) should not be more Palestinians than the Palestinians themselves.”
He was also asked about Israeli designs against Pakistan’s nuclear programme as a common objective of India and Israel. Ambassador Mark Foser categorically denied any such covert Israeli plan against Pakistani nuclear installations. “Israel is not a fly-by-night state. We look at issues in terms of reality and moderation,” he added.
