DUBAI, July 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf tied on Tuesday the establishment of relations between Pakistan and Israel to a settlement to the Middle East conflict and the creation of a Palestinian state.

“The Pakistan government can only study the question of recognising Israel if the Middle East conflict is settled and includes the creation of a Palestinian state and the Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories,” President Musharraf said in an interview with Al-Khaleej newspaper in the United Arab Emirates.

“Recognition (of Israel) is unacceptable for the Pakistani people with the continuing Israeli policy of oppression against the Palestinian people and Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the occupied territories.”

Islamabad “will take its decision at the right moment and will take into consideration the feeling in Islamic countries and public opinion in Pakistan.”

On July 4 in Paris, Musharraf reiterated his intention to reconsider Islamabad’s ties with Israel.—AFP