A delegation of Pakistanis, including a former cabinet minister, met with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem on Wednesday, the group’s leader and trip organizers said. Pakistan is among the countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel
A delegation of Pakistanis, including a former cabinet minister, met with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem last night (Wednesday), the group’s leader and trip organizers told The Associated Press. Pakistan is among the countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel because of the Palestinian issue, according to Pakistan no government delegation has visited Israel.
The organizer of the trip said that the delegation also included representatives from the American Muslim and Multifaith Council for the Empowerment of Women and the organization Sharka, a US-based non-governmental group founded following the Abraham Accords by the Trump administration in 2020, when relations with Israel were normalized by four Arab countries – United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
“Yes, I am in Jerusalem with a delegation to promote interfaith harmony,” Nasim Ashraf, head of the delegation, told the AP by phone. He refused to provide further details about the other members of the delegation. Ashraf previously served as Pakistan’s Development Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Anila Ali, a Pakistani-born US citizen who lives in the United States and is one of the organizers of the trip, told the AP that Ashraf was in Jerusalem to promote interfaith harmony. She called on Pakistan to establish diplomatic ties with Israel that would be in its national interest.
According to her, Turkey is a good example for Pakistan, as the Turkish leadership maintains diplomatic relations with Israel because of its national interest. “If Turkey can do it, then why can’t we do it,” she asked.
Ali said Israel could guide and help Pakistan in improving the country’s irrigation system following the recent flooding, which has killed 1,569 people since mid-June.