Islamabad: In the first ever interview by an Israeli leader to a Pakistani television network, former Prime Minister Shimon Peres has allayed Pakistan's fears over the emerging Indo-Israeli Defence cooperation and denied any plot to strike at Islamabad's nuclear installations or train Indian troops to fight militants in Kashmir.

"Pakistan does not need to be worried over Indo-Israel smooth ties. We do not want instability in South Asia," Peres said in an interview to Geo television channel on October 19 night.

Peres, now heading a think tank in Israel, also denied persistent Pakistani claim that Israel was involved in training Indian troops to fight militants in Kashmir, saying "Israel is neither imparting training nor it is facilitating India in this regard."

The former Israeli Premier also dismissed reports that Israel along with India plotted to strike at Pakistani nuclear installations. Such reports were nothing but propaganda, he said.

Peres said the Indo-Israeli military relationship should not prevent Pakistan from discussing bilateral ties, adding Islamabad had relations with other countries that also sold arms to India.

He also questioned Pakistan's constraints in not recognising Israel due to strong sentiments of local population, saying Pakistan should not hesitate to have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state as some Gulf countries, including Egypt and Jordan recognised Israel.

Hinting that Pakistan had secret contacts with Israel in the past, Peres said in order to address its concerns, Pakistan should have open but not secret talks with Tel Aviv.

"Israel has no dispute with Pakistan. Israel is a well wisher of better relations with Pakistan," he said adding the two countries should have frank talks in an open ambience.

"I don't believe in secret contacts... secret contacts create illusions and finally don't bear any fruit."

Recounting his visit to New Delhi, Peres said he admired Indian culture and civilisation as well as India's move to have open relations with Tel Aviv.

PTI