Media in Israel has claimed that a Pakistani diplomatic delegation will be in the country on a secret visit to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog later this week. But how true are these claims?

The Jerusalem Post published a story titled, ‘Pakistan, Indonesia delegations in Israel for secret talks - report’ on September 19, but it was left without a byline (or reporter name).

It said that the ‘news’ was reported by Israel-based i24NEWS. The channel claimed that the delegation would be headed by Pakistani-American Nasim Ashraf, a former minister of state in former prime minister Pervez Musharraf ’s government.

The television channel claimed, and the Jerusalem Post reported, that they would be given tours.

Dr Ashraf was the chairman of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and Minister of State for six years in the government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Aaj News anchorperson Shaukat Paracha said, however, that there was no official news that any delegation went to Israel from Pakistan and indeed, this was not possible as the Pakistani passport does not allow it. If there were any such delegation it would have to be an unofficial private one and it would have traveled from the US for Israel.

There has been no official confirmation of any such delegation existing at a government level.

Israeli media also made the claim that an Indonesian delegation headed by a “senior official” is on the visit. However, Indonesia has categorically said that no such interactions had either taken place or would. It has no formal ties with Israel, reported Arab News.