Pakistani Filmmaker Challenges National Narrative on Israel
In an exclusive interview with The Media Line’s Felice Friedson, Pakistani investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Sabin Agha describes her eye-opening visit to Israel—a journey that challenged long-standing anti-Israel narratives in Pakistan and revealed surprising common ground between the two countries. Agha was part of an 11-member Pakistani delegation organized by Sharaka, a nonprofit that promotes coexistence in the Middle East. The group toured Holocaust memorial sites, met with Israeli civilians affected by the October 7 Hamas attacks, and engaged with local communities.
Agha said she wanted to find out “what Israel has done to Pakistan”—and found the opposite of what she had been taught. She was struck by the warmth of everyday Israelis toward Pakistani visitors and questioned why Pakistan refuses to recognize Israel, even barring travel there. Other participants echoed her observations, citing cultural, emotional, and historical parallels between Israelis and Pakistanis, especially in their shared trauma of terrorism.
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Some journalists in the group noted that Pakistani society has been steeped in antisemitic rhetoric promoted by the state and religious institutions. One said bluntly, “We are an antisemitic nation.” Others argued that normalized ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia might give Pakistan political cover to improve its relationship with Israel.
Agha emphasized her intention to tell Israeli stories from a humanistic angle, focusing on culture and personal loss rather than conflict. Her insights, and those of her fellow participants, offer a rare and personal perspective on how people-to-people diplomacy can challenge decades of mistrust.
Felice Friedson’s powerful report and exclusive interview with Agha provide a compelling look at shifting perceptions, and why the path to normalization might begin with empathy, not politics. Readers are encouraged to read the full article and watch the exclusive interview.
