Foreign Office denies knowledge of Pakistani delegation's 'visit to Israel'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on Thursday that it had no prior “information or knowledge” about the reported visit of a 10-member Pakistani delegation comprising journalists and researchers to Israel last week.

An Israeli news outlet, Israel Hayom, on Wednesday reported that the ten Pakistani journalists and researchers, including two women, had arrived in Israel last week.

It was further reported that the delegation members' passports were not stamped in order to protect them. The publication of their visit was delayed until they returned home.

“Throughout their week-long stay, they [Pakistani delegation] learned about Israeli and Jewish history while following the standard educational itinerary: Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Sderot… Yad Vashem, the Knesset, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount; plus various Tel Aviv locations, including Hostage Square,” Israel Hayom had reported.

During his weekly media briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, “We learned about the visit through the same media reports you are referring to. Aside from one individual who posted on Twitter, we do not have any details about who visited.”

Citing a lack of information and knowledge about the visit, Shafqat Ali Khan refused to comment on the nationality or passport details of the individuals involved.

Emphasising Pakistan’s unwavering stance on Israel, the FO spokesperson said, “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 the Arab-Israel problems. It remains unwavering, very clear, and very firm.”

It merits mention that Pakistan does not recognise the state of Israel. Passports issued to Pakistani citizens explicitly prohibit travel to Israel. Islamabad has consistently advocated for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally accepted guidelines” and pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Meanwhile, condemning Israel’s brutal attacks on the people of the West Bank and Gaza, the FO spokesperson said, “Israel’s airstrikes and raids are a flagrant breach of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter, and undermine global trust in international law.”

He emphasised that Pakistan has called for an immediate end to hostilities in the West Bank and Gaza, stressing the need to protect civilians and ensure unrestricted access to humanitarian aid.

“We urge the international community to intensify efforts to halt Israel’s genocidal campaign against the innocent people of Palestine,” he added.

Pakistan remains committed to the two-state solution, grounded in the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, UN Security Council resolutions, and rulings of the International Court of Justice.