01 February 2005	Tuesday	21 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Pakistan on Monday denied that any meeting had taken place between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in the Swiss city of Davos.

In reply to a question about reports carried by the Israeli press about a meeting held between Mr Aziz and Mr Shalom on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said the reports were not true. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli officials had confirmed the meeting.

"(Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon) Peres shook hands and exchanged words with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf at last year's Davos meeting, but the Shalom-Aziz meeting went beyond just a passing conversation in a hotel corridor," said the Jerusalem Post.

The newspaper quoted an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman as saying: "Israel doesn't see Pakistan as an enemy, but rather as an important country in the Muslim world with which it is interested in normalising ties".

Mr Masood Khan said such rumours were also floated at the time of last year's Davos meeting. According to the Jerusalem Post, there has been much speculation in Israel over the last two years as to Pakistani motives following an increase in 'overtures' from Islamabad.

"In June 2004, after receiving a $3 billion economic package from Washington, Musharraf said in a televised interview that Islamabad should consider recognizing Israel," said the newspaper.