Islamabad: Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's official visit to India on June 10 will be closely monitored by Pakistan's security managers. This will be the first-ever visit to New Delhi by any top level Israeli leader, sending a clear message that the decade-old relationship is going to be cemented further, reports 'The News'.

New Delhi's attempt to move closer towards the United States through this Israeli connection became obvious during India's Chief Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra's visit to Washington this month.

Addressing a gathering of the Jewish lobby, Mishra suggested the axis of three democracies in the battle against terrorism. In this, he floated the idea of the US, Israel and India forming a troika against terror.

There are different views expressed in Islamabad of how Pakistan should react to this growing Indo- Israeli nexus but there is consensus that there is dire need to be proactive in its foreign policy.

"Currently Israel does not see Pakistan as a threat and Pakistan does not have any anti-Israel role or policy," Senator Mushahid Hussain said. It is important nonetheless that after Russia, it is Israel that is the largest arms provider to India. "In the pipeline are Defence deals worth $ 300 billion between Tel Aviv and New Delhi," he added.

Of interest to Pakistan, as far as Kashmir is concerned, is the ongoing cooperation between Israel and India, where for the first time 3,000 Indian commandos will be trained by Israelis to specifically counter terrorism.

Hussain pointed out the pro-active Indian foreign policy where they are not only trying to get closer to the United States through Israel, but the upcoming visit of Vajpayee to China is also significant.

"This visit is a threat to our security", said Gen Hamid Gul (Retd) and added that previously these ties were not made public as India did not want to annoy Arab states. But that phase is over now.

"It was Advani who went to Tel Aviv to ask for commando training and already the Israelis have provided the Indians with satellites for Kashmir," he recalled. Hamid Gul was of the view that Pakistan's nuclear capability is something that Tel Aviv has still not come to terms with, as Pakistan is the first Muslim state to go nuclear.

"Israel has even tried to strike at our nuclear capabilities," he said. Pakistan has been reluctant to set up diplomatic ties with Israel saying that it would be up to the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) to take up the matter.

At one stage when the issue was raised some voices said Pakistan had no issue with Israel except for its steadfast support for the Palestinians and their Rights. The view was that it was in Pakistan's interest to set up diplomatic ties with Israel.

However, public opinion is strongly against this until and unless the Palestinians get their due Rights. Interestingly, according to Indian media reports, the first-ever Indo-Russian Naval exercises beginning this week could set the tone for more such exercises in future.

ANI