Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Adviser to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Tourism, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, was seen meeting and shaking hands with Michael Yizhakov, Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
The brief exchange took place at the Pakistan pavilion, drawing attention as the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations. Footage and photos from the event show the two officials engaging in a cordial conversation during the international tourism fair, which hosted delegations from over 180 countries.
The meeting comes amid renewed international focus on Pakistan’s potential role in regional diplomacy, as reports have recently mentioned the country among those that could participate in future peace or humanitarian initiatives related to Gaza.
Neither Islamabad nor Tel Aviv has issued an official statement regarding the exchange.
The WTM London is one of the world’s largest travel industry gatherings, aimed at promoting cooperation and partnerships across borders, even between countries without formal relations.