Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has launched a strong verbal attack on Israel, describing it as “evil” and a “curse for humanity” while accusing it of committing genocide in Lebanon amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded sharply, calling the remarks outrageous.
In a social media post that was later deleted, Asif condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon, claiming that while peace efforts were underway, “innocent citizens are being killed by Israel” in a pattern that began in Gaza, extended to Iran, and now continues in Lebanon. He referred to Israel as a “cancerous state” created on Palestinian land and expressed the hope that those responsible for its establishment “burn in hell.”
Netanyahu’s office described Asif’s call for Israel’s annihilation as unacceptable, particularly from a government positioning itself as a neutral mediator in regional peace talks. “This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated on X.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also issued a strong rebuke, denouncing what he called “blatant antisemitic blood libels” and warning that labeling Israel as “cancerous” amounted to a call for its destruction. He affirmed that Israel would continue to defend itself against those who seek its elimination.
The exchange marks a rare direct diplomatic clash between the two countries, which do not maintain formal relations. It comes after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. Asif removed his post following the Israeli backlash.
The remarks surfaced against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East. Lebanon became embroiled in the conflict after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday killed hundreds, testing a recently announced US-Iran ceasefire that took effect less than 48 hours earlier.
Netanyahu has made clear that while Israel supports the two-week suspension of attacks on Iran, the truce does not extend to Lebanon or Hezbollah. This stance contradicts claims by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been involved in mediation efforts and asserted that the ceasefire applied across the region, including Lebanon. US officials, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, have confirmed that Lebanon was not part of the agreement.
Iranian media have reported that Tehran may now suspend upcoming peace talks with the US in Islamabad unless Israel halts its operations in Lebanon, raising fears that the fragile diplomatic process could unravel.
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