24 January 2004	Saturday	01 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: Pakistan on Friday said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf's 'chance' meeting with former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres at Davos on Thursday should not be seen as a change in the country's policy towards Israel.

"It was a chance encounter and the conversation lasted for a few minutes," said Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan when contacted by Dawn. The spokesman dispelled the notion that the meeting signalled a change in Pakistan's policy towards Israel. "This is not an indication of a review of our policy towards Israel," he stated. Gen Musharraf and Mr Peres met outside a VIP lounge at the annual World Economic Forum being held in Davos.

DEBRIEFING: Talking to a TV chennel, the spokesman denied involvement of any foreign agency in debriefing of nuclear scientists, adds APP. He urged media to avoid speculation.