Afghanistan ponders relations with Israel

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Afghanistan could consider forging diplomatic relations with Israel if Palestinians established their own state, a spokesman for the Afghan president said.

The spokesman made the remarks following an interview President Hamid Karzai gave to Israeli media during which he spoke of the possibility of Afghanistan having diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

"We want peace for Palestinians and Israelis," said the spokesman, the Pak Tribune reported. "As far as ties with Israel are concerned, the Afghan president in his interview said that Afghanistan would consider building its ties with Israel only when Palestinians had their own independent state."