Israel on Thursday strongly condemned comments made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, questioning Pakistan’s credibility as a neutral actor in ongoing regional diplomacy.
The reaction followed a series of social media posts by Asif targeting Israel. Responding to the remarks, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office stated, “Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous.” It further added, “Such a statement is unacceptable from any government, particularly one that presents itself as a neutral mediator for peace.”
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as Pakistan has recently been credited with helping broker a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and is set to host fresh peace talks over the weekend.
In his statements, Asif described Israel as “evil” and a “curse for humanity,” and called for it to be eliminated. He also linked diplomatic efforts to ongoing conflicts, saying, “Peace talks are underway in Islamabad while genocide is being committed in Lebanon.”
He further alleged that Israel was responsible for widespread civilian casualties, stating, “Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel—first Gaza, then Iran, and now Lebanon. The bloodshed continues unabated.” In a controversial remark, he added that those responsible for creating Israel should “burn in hell.”
Separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the statements, calling them “blatant antisemitic libels from a government that claims to mediate peace.” He reiterated that Israel would continue to defend itself against threats to its existence.
