Israeli delegation arrived without intimation, says PM’s tourism adviser after viral video

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Tourism in the UK, Sardar Yasir Ilyas, on Friday issued a clarification after a video surfaced showing him shaking hands with officials of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.

The clip, widely circulated by Israeli and Indian social media accounts, prompted criticism in Pakistan. Sardar Yasir, however, rejected the speculation as “baseless and false propaganda", according to a media report.

In his statement, the adviser said that the Israeli delegation arrived at the Pakistan pavilion unannounced, adding that there had been no prior communication, arrangement, or scheduled meeting with the delegation.

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“They approached the Pakistan pavilion without any intimation, and the interaction was neither planned nor official,” he said, urging people not to misinterpret the brief exchange captured on camera.

At the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabbi was asked about the video and the reported meeting. He responded that the Foreign Office had “no information” about the encounter.

“The individual you are referring to is a public figure,” the spokesperson said. “I would request you to seek clarification directly from him.”