Pakistan Foreign Minister has expressed desire to normalize relations with Israel. He made the remarks while talking to an Israeli reporter on the sidelines of recently concluded Munich Security Conference.

According to a report published by Ma’ariv, an Israeli news portal, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mahmoud Qureshi said:

“Pakistan is interested in advancing its relations with Israel, but this is a question of the political situation in the region,”

The statement comes at a time when Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to normalize relations with Muslim countries around the world.

The Pakistani Minister further said:

“Progress in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be very helpful,”

He continued that “We wish all the best for Israel, we have many friends in the region and we would like you to join them,” the Pakistani minister concluded.

Pakistan and Israel have also engaged with each other in the past. In 2005, during Pervez Musharraf’s time, foreign ministers of both countries held a much-publicized meeting in Istanbul.