Hamid Mir questions Pakistan’ stance on Israel amid journalists’ visit to Tel Aviv

Renowned journalist Hamid Mir questioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government about whether Pakistani authorities have any intention of establishing ties with Israel following a recent visit by a group of Pakistani journalists to Tel Aviv.

Israeli media published interviews with several Pakistani journalists who visited Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem, claiming that Pakistani state officials were interested in establishing ties with Israel but faced resistance from conservative circles. As a result, diplomatic relations between the two countries do not exist.

Read: Israeli media reports ‘secret visit’ by Pakistani journalists, researchers to Tel Aviv

Sharing an article titled "Pakistani journalists visit Israel, find unexpected connection and warmth" published by The Jerusalem Post, Mir demanded clarification from the Shehbaz-led government regarding the visit.

“Will the government of PM Shehbaz explain this back-channel diplomacy?” Mir wrote, referring to an Israeli newspaper report that claimed a group of Pakistanis who visited Israel alleged that the Pakistani state deliberately prevented large-scale anti-Israel rallies in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, journalist Sabin Agha also stated that she was aware of deliberate efforts to stop major anti-Israel demonstrations in the country.

"I am aware that a high-profile or large-scale anti-Israel rally in Pakistan was deliberately prevented from taking place," she claimed.

Earlier, Israeli newspapaers reported on a secret visit by a 10-member delegation of Pakistani journalists, documentary filmmakers, and researchers to Tel Aviv and occupied Jerusalem.