Islamabad, September 3:

A maverick minister has set the cat among the pigeons by suggesting that Pakistan recognise Israel to counter the growing contacts between the Jewish state and India. This recognition would also be in Pakistan’s national interests, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi. “I will express the same opinion in cabinet meetings. Foreign relations committees of the two chambers of parliament should make recommendations for improvement of Pakistan’s relations with Israel,” The News quoted him as saying today. Know for his frequent off-the-cuff remarks, Niazi had last week led a walkout from parliament of ruling Pakistan Muslim League MPs after a government bill was defeated due to lack of quorum.

Niazi is the first member of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s cabinet to react to Thursday’s path-breaking meeting between Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Istanbul. The minister said military cooperation between Israel and India was increasing and Tel Aviv had become a defence partner of New Delhi. Israel has given latest weapons, including airborne systems, to India and this had created concerns about Pakistan’s security. “We should not jeopardise our security,” the minister maintained. According to him, even if a U-turn was required on the issue, Pakistan should not avoid this.