DAVOS, Jan 22: President Pervez Musharraf shook hands and conversed warmly with former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres here on Thursday. The two met apparently by chance in public outside a VIP lounge at the annual World Economic Forum.

Pakistani officials looked on nervously as Gen Musharraf smiled, had a prolonged handshake and spoke for about two minutes with Mr Peres, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize for a 1993 Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement that has since fallen apart. "We all look to your leadership," the veteran Israeli politician, now leader of the opposition Labour party, told the president.

NATO CHIEF: President Musharraf and NATO Secretary-General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer discussed the situation in Afghanistan at a meeting here on Thursday. They discussed reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Afghanistan and expressed satisfaction over progress and political stabilization there.

Gen Musharraf also met Swiss Confederation President Joseph Deiss and discussed with him issues with focus on enhancing trade between the two countries.-Agencies