Sayed Bukhari, an advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, took to Twitter on Monday to deny a report in Israel Hayom that he had visited Israel and held meetings with high-ranking officials.
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On Sunday, Israel Hayom reported that Bukhari had arrived in Israel in November 2020, quoting a Pakistani source, who said that the advisor – who lives in Britain – had flown to Ben-Gurion International Airport from Islamabad via London, and travelled on his British passport. The report said that he was taken to Tel Aviv, where he met with Foreign Minister officials, to whom he delivered messages from Khan, and with outgoing Mossad director Yossi Cohen, to whom he delivered a message from the head of Pakistan's military.
DIDNOT go to Israel.
Funny bit is Pakistani paper says I went to Israel based on "Israeli news source" & Israeli paper says I went to Israel based on a "Pakistani source"-wonder who this imaginative Pakistani source is?Apparently, I'm the only one who was kept out of the loop. https://t.co/bcRO3osWMk
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) June 28, 2021
The source who spoke to Israel Hayom said the visit took place after heavy pressure on Pakistan from the United Arab Emirates.
"DID NOT go to Israel," Bukhari tweeted.
"Funny bit is Pakistani paper says I went to Israel based on 'Israeli news source' and Israeli paper says I went to Israel based on a 'Pakistani source' – wonder who this imaginative Pakistani source is," Bukhari's tweet read.
Another advisor to Khan, Dr. Arslan Khaled, also tweeted about the reports that Bukhari had visited Israel, writing that the Pakistani media should "show a little maturity and not promote fake news."
According to Khalid, the last time similar "propaganda" was disseminated, not only did Bukhari deny it, the Middle East Monitor website issued an apology for the "fake news."
The Pakistani denial reflects how deeply Pakistan opposes any contact with Israel, despite various reports about direct and indirect secret outreach between the countries' leaders.
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