ANKARA, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri held the first meeting in Istanbul on Thursday, a diplomatic breakthrough that followed Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

    The meeting was held at the initiative of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin also participated in the meeting, according to Turkish media.

    Shalom said the meeting was historic, and it was the time for all of Muslim and Arab countries to reconsider their relations with Israel.

    He said he hoped that the meeting will eventually lead to full diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

    Israel has full diplomatic relations with four Muslim countries -- Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Mauritania.
 
    "Pakistan attaches great importance to Israel ending its occupation of Gaza. We see this development as the beginning of the process of (ending) Israeli occupation and establishing a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security. Pakistan has therefore decided to engage with Israel," Kasuri said in a statement.

    He said the key to a durable peace in the Middle East and the world at large depends on resolving long-standing disputes such as Palestine and Kashmir.

    Pakistan has long taken a hard line against Israel and has been a staunch supporter of demands for a Palestinian state and an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Enditem