Islamabad: According to a report by Independent Urdu, Israeli media has claimed that a delegation of Pakistani journalists, documentary filmmakers, and researchers recently undertook a secret visit to Israel.
The report, citing Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, stated that the visit took place last week and was arranged by the Israeli NGO Sharaka, which aims to improve Israel’s relations with Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
The Pakistani delegation visited various locations, including museums, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and other significant sites in Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem.
As per the Israeli newspaper, Pakistani journalist Qaiser Abbas, speaking on the condition that no photos be published, stated that he was visiting Israel in a personal capacity. He expressed his belief that this visit would not provoke public outrage in Pakistan. Abbas further commented that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was possible but would require joint efforts from both sides.
Another delegation member, Shabbir Khan, mentioned that Pakistan and Israel could potentially normalize relations in the future. However, he warned that such efforts might face opposition from "extremist Islamic groups." According to Khan, this normalization process could take 10 to 20 years.
Sharaka’s head, Dan Feferman, told Israel Hayom that they were excited to welcome the Pakistani delegation to Israel. He stated that this visit aligned with Sharaka’s broader agenda of promoting peace between Israel and the Arab world.
Pakistani documentary filmmaker Sabeen Agha, another member of the delegation, told JNS that she had always wanted to visit Israel to find answers to her questions and challenge the narratives she had been taught about Jews in Pakistan and the Muslim world.
The visit comes amid ongoing debates about Pakistan's stance on Israel, as the country officially does not recognize the Jewish state due to its position on the Palestinian issue.
