An Israeli cabinet minister said today he planned to visit Pakistan in March in a sign of improving relations between the two countries.
The Jewish state and Muslim Pakistan have no diplomatic relations, and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz's visit would be the first by a senior Israeli official in years.
Mr Katz told Israel radio he received the invitation through an official at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and would visit Pakistan with a small group of United Nations officials.
"I was invited to visit Pakistan next March, and I accepted the invitation," said Mr Katz.
"I think the visit comes against the background of an improvement in relations between Israel and Pakistan. The two countries . . . are working with the United States to fight terror, and this is clearly a basis for co-operation," he said.