Pakistan

Pakistani delegation made rare visit to Israel, Islamabad denies its affiliation

Published by

Kashif Zia

1 year ago

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Pakistani journalists and educators made a rare visit to Israel last week, through the Israeli NGO Sharaka, Israel Hayom, an Israeli newspaper, reported.

The development was also confirmed by Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, who told reporters that the visit of journalists and influencers had nothing to do with the foreign ministry or government.

“We are gathering information on an alleged visit and we would be able to comment further once we have a clear picture,” he added at a weekly media briefing in Islamabad.

There is no change in the Pakistani government’s policy towards Israel, he said.

According to the Israeli media, the 10-member delegation of Pakistani journalists and researchers, including two women, toured historical and cultural centers, including the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center and the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem.

They also visited communities in southern Israel including Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Sderot, Kibbutz Re’im, and Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

The members of the delegation include Shabbir Khan, Qaisar Abbas, Sabin Agha, Kaswar Klasra, and others.

The visit was supported by the Sharaka organisation, a non-governmental organization, established following the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, the Hayom reported, adding that they arrived in Israel last Monday and carried passports declaring their invalidity for travel to Israel.

“Despite this, they bravely accepted an invitation from Sharaka, an organization working to strengthen relations between Israel and South Asian countries,” the report said.

“To protect the delegation members, their passports were not stamped, and publication of their visit was delayed until they returned safely home.”

One delegation member, Qaisar Abbas, while talking to Israel Hayom said, “As journalists, we have no boundaries in pursuing information and truth from around the globe. It’s not about Israel specifically but about the entire world. This quest for knowledge brought us here.”

Another delegation member, Sabin Agha, a journalist, and director, told Jewish News Syndicate, “I always wanted to come to Israel to find out all the questions in my mind and to clear all the confusion about what my country and the Muslim world has been telling me about the Jews.”

‘No question of recognizing Israel’

Addressing the press briefing, the Foreign Office spokespersons said that there is no question of a change in Pakistan’s position on the question of recognition of Israel or on the question of Palestine or Israel or on the question of Palestine or the Arab-Israel problems.

Responding to the question, Shafqat maintained that Islamabad had no foreknowledge or information about the visit.

“We found out about the visit through the same media reports that you are alluding to. We do not have any details about who visited except for one individual who posted on Twitter,” the official said.

“As far as Pakistan’s position is concerned, it’s very unambiguous,” he told reporters.

Shafqat further added that Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel”, and its passport explicitly states that it cannot be used for travel to the country.

“There is no question of a change in Pakistan’s position on the question of recognition of Israel or on the question of Palestine or Israel or on the question of Palestine or the Arab-Israel problems.”

Commenting on Israel resuming its bombing campaign and ground operations in Gaza, the FO spokesman said Pakistan “unequivocally condemned” the assault in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement [signed in January].

Kashif Zia