Fearing that Israel planned pre-emptive strikes on its nuclear facilities in the aftermath of the tit-for-tat India-Pak nuclear tests in May 1998, Pakistan "discreetly" got in touch with top Israeli diplomats and United States government to seek direct clarification, a former Pakistani official claimed Friday.

Former foreign secretary Riaz Khkohar, who was Pakistan's ambassador to Washington in 1998 said he was officially asked to get in touch with Israeli diplomats and US government to verify reports that Tel Aviv moved its forces to the "region" to attack Pakistan's nuclear installations.

He immediately established "discreet" contacts with the Israeli ambassador to Washington and sought direct clarification from him, Khokar said.

The US government itself got in touch with the then Israeli prime minister and sought his response to the speculation, he told an interactive discussion arranged by South Asian Free Media Association on establishment of recent formal contacts between Pakistan and Israel.

Israel for its part clarified that the reports were wrong and it had no such plans to attack and assured Pakistan government it did not see Pakistan as a threat, he added.

• Pakistan does not recognise Israel: Musharraf

Khokhar, who retired in 2005 from the service, revealed the details of his discreet contacts with the Israeli diplomats to make the point that though Pakistan did not recognise Israel over the Palestine issue, it has maintained unofficial contacts with Tel Aviv for over a decade.

Another retired foreign secretary of Pakistan Niaz Naik told the meeting that Pakistan also maintained discreet contacts with Israel over high-tech weapons being purchased by India from Israel.