New Delhi: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf held a rare and secret meeting with Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak last week, according to media reports.
It is believed that the Iranian nuclear program figured high on the agenda.
The two apparently met at a hotel in Paris where Musharraf was on an official visit on Sunday. Musharraf apparently took the lead in proposing a meeting and in an hour-long conversation he reportedly assured Barak that Pakistan's nuclear assets were in safe hands.
Barak was reported to have voiced concern over the growth of Islamic extremism in Pakistan and over Iran's nuclear programme. It's not clear what assurance Musharraf gave him on that score.
Israel's Defence Ministry has confirmed the meeting took place, however Islamabad has not made any confirmations.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan, which has close political and economic ties with Iran, has repeatedly said Iran has a right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and that the issue of Iran's nuclear plans must be resolved by diplomatic means.
Israel and Pakistan are key allies of the US, and there have been indications of warming ties between them.
In 2005, Israel's then foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, met his Pakistani counterpart, Khursheed Kasuri, in Turkey, sparking protests from Islamic hardliners in Pakistan.
In September 2006, Musharraf said Pakistan's government would have to recognise Israel after an independent Palestinian state was established — but not before.
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