The General’s talent for duplicity is commendable. Only months earlier, he was seen cavorting with Israel and the Jews in America. But then brotherhood is thicker than diplomacy: Islam commands allegiance to the region of its birth. The General obeys.

Pakistan has no plans to recognise Israel and will continue its support to Palestinians till the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“We want peace in Palestine and will continue extending support to our Palestinian brethren,” President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday during talks with outgoing Palestinian ambassador Ahmed Abdul Razzaq.

(Indian Express)

So he’s put the ball in Israel’s court:

He asked Israel to end violence in Palestine and remove hurdles on the way to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Daily Times newspaper said.

Right. Israel is the terrorist state which regularly sends freedom fighters into Palestine who fire homemade rockets, stop elections and generally create havoc. This statement as calculated, yielded immediate applause from Palestine.

Razzaq [outgoing Palestine ambassador] lauded Musharraf’s efforts for the Palestinian cause and demanded Israel pull out from occupied territories in the West Bank of Palestine.

I’m suddenly reminded of the contrast between the General and the Iranian head of state who is either a little dense in the head or is deliberately trying to provoke Israel. If it’s the former, then Ahmad urgently needs lessons in duplicity diplomacy from Musharraf.

Israel is not exactly hankering for Pakistan’s recognition–unlike our worthies who think nothing of sacrificing thousands of Indians–despite the September Handshake of Friendship so Musharraf’s statement really amounts to nothing. However, the General cannot be underestimated. His latest I-won’t-recognize-Israel statement like everything else is thoroughly one-sided: while not granting recognition, he is not exactly averse to accepting earthquake aid from Israel/Jews.

“US Jewish congress if provides funds for reconstruction process in the quake stricken areas, we will accept it. If Israel extends financial assistance on this occasion we will accept it”, he said this in an interview with CNN here Thursday.

And this is the person we treat with utmost honour and respect.