ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Talking to the Turkish and Lebanese leadership by telephone, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Sunday Pakistan wanted to engage Israel to promote the Palestine cause and Kasuri-Shalom meeting in Istanbul was part of that policy.

Mr Aziz, who rang up his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Ergodan to thank him for helping in arranging the meeting between Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom, said that the meeting did not mean in any way that Pakistan would recognise Israel as next step.

The prime minister expressed the hope that the meeting would help promote the Palestinian cause and peace in the Middle East and develop interfaith harmony.

The Turkish prime minister told Mr Aziz that the meeting went well and would help promote peace in the region.

Mr Aziz also called Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Sanura and discussed with him the Middle East situation, particularly in the light of the meeting.

Mr Aziz told Mr Sanura that Pakistan wished to engage Israel to help create understanding about the Palestinian cause and to promote it.

He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that it would not recognize Israel as long as a permanent and durable solution of Palestine issue was found and an independent state of Palestine was established.

APP adds: In an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya TV, Mr Aziz said there had been no change in Pakistan’s policy about recognition of Israel.

Answering a question, he said there had been positive reaction (over the Istanbul meeting) from the people and political forces, except few politicians.

He said Pakistan had been supporting the cause of Palestine and working for the creation of an independent Palestinian state and the Turkey meeting was aimed at just engaging Israel for resolution of the Palestine issue.

Mr Aziz said the meeting would also resolve misperceptions and help in explaining Pakistan and Muslim world’s point of view on Israel in a better way.

He said Pakistan wanted to go beyond issuing statements on the issue of Palestine, therefore, the meeting of the two foreign ministers was planned.

Pakistan consulted Muslim leaders and President Gen Pervez Musharraf talked to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyep Erdogan before the meeting, he said.

Pakistan informed many other Muslim leaders about the meeting but the decision of the meeting was Pakistan’s own, he added.

The prime minister said Pakistan, being an important member of the Muslim world, wanted to play due role in resolving the issue of Palestine.

He reiterated that without complete freedom of Palestine and full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Palestinian territory, the question of recognition of Israel could not be discussed.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan had an important position in the world community and Palestinian Authority President Mahmood Abbas during his visit to Pakistan two months ago had asked President Musharraf to play a role in projecting the cause of Palestine.

He was of the view that besides promoting the cause of Palestine, the meeting would also be helpful in resolving the Kashmir issue.

Answering another question, he said if the meeting helped in resolving the Palestine issue, then Pakistan would continue the contact otherwise it would work on other options.

However, he said it was too early to say what Pakistan could do to solve the Palestinian problem.

The prime minister said no short term gains were expected from the meeting but there would be long term peace in the shape of the solution of the Palestine problem.

Defending the meeting, he said engagement was a mature way to handle issues.

He said indirect contacts between Pakistan and Israel began a week before the meeting and it was held with the cooperation of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyep Erdogan.

Giving some details, he said both the foreign ministers discussed regional issues and Palestinian situation and it was clarified that Pakistan wanted peace and independent homeland for Palestinians.