Pakistani Delegation Visits Israel Through Sharaka Initiative, Building Bridges Between Nations - Faith & Freedom News

In a groundbreaking initiative, a delegation of Pakistani journalists and educators made a rare visit to Israel in March 2025, invited by the Sharaka organization to build bridges between the two nations. This 10-member group, the largest delegation from Pakistan hosted by Sharaka to date, aimed to challenge long-held narratives and promote dialogue in a region often defined by tension. The visit underscores Sharaka’s mission to shape a new Middle East through people-to-people engagement, fostering understanding, cooperation, and friendship.

A Journey of Discovery

The delegation’s journey began with a warm welcome at Ben-Gurion International Airport, setting the tone for an eye-opening experience. Sabin Agha, a Karachi-based journalist and documentary filmmaker, shared her motivation with JNS: “I always wanted to come to Israel to find out all the questions in my mind and to clear all the confusion about what my country and the Muslim world has been telling me about the Jews. I am not surprised to find the complete opposite of what the state narrative of Muslim countries was.” Agha hopes to become a messenger of peace between Pakistan and Israel, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel.

The group visited sites deeply affected by those attacks, including Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they met survivors, and the Nova Festival site in Kibbutz Re’im. They also explored cultural and religious landmarks such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, where they prayed freely, and the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. Kaswar Klasra, editor-in-chief of The Islamabad Telegraph, noted the unexpected hospitality: “It was a pleasant surprise to be in Israel because before we came we had been getting only one-sided information. It will not be easy for Pakistanis to accept the reality because they have been fed baseless negative lies about Israel by both world and local media.”

Security concerns led most delegates to avoid interviews or photographs, fearing repercussions in Pakistan, where anti-Israel sentiment prevails and travel to Israel is officially prohibited. However, Klasra remained resolute: “This disinformation needs to be addressed,” he said, determined to share the truth despite potential professional risks.

Voices of Hope Amid Challenges

Qaisar Abbas, a journalist writing for international outlets, openly shared his perspective with Israel Hayom: “As journalists, we have no boundaries in pursuing information and truth from around the globe. This quest for knowledge brought us here.” Abbas emphasized that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—a prerequisite Pakistan sets for diplomatic relations with Israel—rests with the parties involved: “Only Israelis and Palestinians can transform this conflict into friendship.”

Shabbir Khan, a former Washington Post correspondent, described Israel as “remarkably welcoming.” Wandering Tel Aviv, he felt at home: “Last night I sat in cafés—it felt like being in Karachi. The atmosphere was completely unhostile.” Khan predicted normalization within a decade or two, especially if Saudi Arabia formalizes ties with Israel: “Pakistan will almost certainly follow.”

The visit coincided with a terrorist attack in Pakistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army, hijacking a train from Quetta to Peshawar. Reflecting on this at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, Abbas connected the shared pain of terrorism: “As a Pakistani, I feel this pain, just as I feel your pain and Palestinian suffering.”

A Vision for the Future

The Abraham Accords opened doors to regional cooperation, but Sharaka believes it’s up to individuals to walk through them. By hosting delegations like this one, which also visited the Israeli Knesset and Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Sharaka positions itself as a hub for non-governmental collaboration, particularly among the younger generation. The organization’s work signals hope that human connections can pave the way for broader peace, even amidst challenges like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Pakistan’s official stance.

As Shabbir Khan gathered material for his digital platform, he encapsulated the delegation’s spirit: “I’m collecting information to publish… showing that people suffer here just as we suffer in Pakistan.” Through such exchanges, Sharaka continues to sow the seeds of a new Middle East built on dialogue and understanding.

Sharaka: Pioneering People-to-People Diplomacy

Sharaka, meaning “partnership” in Arabic, is a non-profit founded by citizens of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain following the 2020 Abraham Accords. The organization unites Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze from across the Middle East and beyond to promote warm peace and normalization. Dan Feferman, a Sharaka co-chair, told Israel Hayom: “We’re excited to bring another delegation of senior journalists, academics, and prominent civil society leaders from Pakistan to Israel as part of our antisemitism and Holocaust education program. This initiative advances our broader agenda promoting people-to-people diplomacy and fostering peace between Israel and the Arab and Muslim world.”

Sharaka’s efforts extend beyond the Middle East to South Asia, including Pakistan, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties with Israel. To facilitate the visit, the delegation’s passports were not stamped upon arrival, reflecting the delicate political context.

Dan Feferman, Sharaka’s co-chairman, explained that bringing Pakistani delegations to Israel is part of their “antisemitism and Holocaust education program” which advances their broader agenda of fostering peace between Israel and the Arab and Muslim world.

While most delegation members requested anonymity due to concerns about potential repercussions upon returning home, senior journalist Shabbir Khan was optimistic about future relations between the two countries, stating, “I estimate within 10-20 years, or perhaps sooner, relations will normalize. Particularly if Saudi Arabia formalizes an agreement with Israel in the next two or three years, Pakistan will almost certainly follow.”

This visit marks a significant step in grassroots diplomacy between Israel and Pakistan, reflecting Sharaka’s mission to shape a new Middle East built on dialogue, understanding, cooperation, and friendship.