Israel–Pakistan relations

Israeli–Pakistani relations

Israel	Pakistan

:-)

Both Israel and Pakistan are former British colonies that were established as states shortly after World War II. Both experienced large population exchanges following the partitions which established their states.

Some Israeli leaders believe that should diplomatic relations with Pakistan be established then Pakistan could serve as a bridge between Israel and the Muslim world. 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.

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-Gurion sent a secret message by phone to the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah to recognize Israel. But Jinnah did not give any particular response to Israel.
• In the 1967 6-Day War, in which Israel decisively defeated the Arabs, Pakistani pilots, using Iraqi, Jordanian and Egyptian aircraft shot down 10 Israeli aircraft without losing any from their side.
• In 1973, the sixteen of Pakistan Air Force's fighter pilots volunteered in Yom Kippur War. During the conflict, PAF did not lose a single pilot whereas PAF pilots shot down 3 Israeli aircraft. Nur Khan, who was the Wing Commander received praised from Israeli President Ezer Weizman who wrote in his autobiography that: "He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian".
• In the 1980's, during the Soviet-Afghan War, Pakistani-based intelligence ISI and Israeli intelligence Mossad along with the CIA, ran a covert operation in Afghanistan to remove the Soviets from the country. Israel and Pakistan also had high-level dealings through their powerful intelligence agencies which included military dealings.. Israel also supported Pakistan by providing Soviet weapons to Pakistan during 1980s which were seized after invading Lebanon.
• 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 Force got alerted beforehand, and took preventative measures.
• In 1993, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, along with her then-Director-General of Military Operations, Pervez Musharraf, 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 1996, Pakistan's Intelligence Agency, FIA, started a secret war against islamic Extremist in Pakistan under the leadership of Rehman Malik. According to sources, FIA contacted Israeli intelligence agency Mossad to help and send its officers to investigate the Islamic extremist in Pakistan. This action dismayed many religious factors in Pakistan as well as ISI.
• In 1998, Pakistani delegation to the United Nations met with Israeli UN delegation, shortly after Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests. Pakistan assured Israel that it will never transfer nuclear technology to Iran or any other state.
• 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 2002, Pakistani tennis player Aisam-ul-Haque teamed up with Amir Hadad of Israel during Wimbledon and US Open tournaments in 2002.
• In 2003, President Pervez Musharraf raised the issue of possible diplomatic relations with Israel,
• In 2005 the foreign ministers 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.

Sporting Ties

During the 2002 Wimbledon Open, Israeli tennis player Amir Hadad 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. But Hadad and Aisam dedicated their run to peace. This extraordinary doubles team attained an upset victory in the 2nd round over the No. 11 seeded team of Ellis Ferreira and Rick Leach.

On February 6, 2003, Hadad and Qureshi were chosen as the winners of the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award. ATP Chief Executive Officer Mark Miles said: "During a summer when fear and hatred garnered much of the headlines, Amir and Aisam-ul-Haq provided much needed relief with their simple message about tolerance through tennis. It's fitting that we present the Arthur Ashe Award to these two players on the anniversary of Arthur's death, as Arthur remains the model for all of us on how athletes and sport can make a big difference in the lives of others."

Israeli Aid to Pakistan Earthquake Disaster

During the 2005 Kashmir earthquake Israel offered heavy aid to Pakistan;Pakistan was thankful for the aid and accepted the help on the condition that the aid be channeled through a third-party organization such as the United Nations. 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.

See also

• Pakistanis in Israel
• Pakistan–Palestine relations
• Foreign relations of Israel
• Foreign relations of Pakistan
• Operation Cyclone
• History of the Jews in Pakistan

External links

• The Strangely Parallel Careers of Israel and Pakistan
• Cordial Pak-Israel Relations: Why Not?