Islamabad Talks: When all focus is on Pakistan's capital city, Islamabad, as it is set to host crucial 'peace talks' between warring sides - Iran and the US, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif exposed his government's dilemma on the ceasefire in the Middle East. Asif shared a controversial post on Israel, calling it "evil and a curse for humanity".
"Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray that people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell," he said in the post.
Why Has Asif Deleted His Post?
Asif's statement has put the fragile ceasefire at more risk, even before the commencement of the negotiations in Islamabad. Hours before the negotiation, such a biased post questioned Pakistan's neutral stance. However, as the social media post drew backlash, he deleted his post. The pressure from the US has been evident, which forced the Pakistani minister to remove his statement.
Israel's Response
Reacting strongly to Asif's statement, the Prime Minister of Israel slammed Pakistan, saying such a statement is not acceptable from a government that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.
"Pakistan Defence Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. 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," Israeli PMO said.
What Is Pakistan's Dilemma?
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif had claimed that Lebanon was also a part of the peace deal - a claim firmly dismissed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel continued its attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon, leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Israel outrightly rejected Pakistan's claim, which exposed Islamabad's credibility. Pakistan's internal politics does not allow it to make any negotiation directly with Israel, but peace in the Middle East cannot be assured without taking Tel Aviv into its fold. Asif's anti-Israel post and its deletion exposed that Pakistan's foreign policy is not independent but is influenced by the Trump administration. This is Pakistan's classic catch-22 situation. On the one hand, Pakistan is using all its machinery to represent itself as a neutral peacemaker, but Asif hints that Islamabad cannot afford to negotiate with a country (Israel) that it has not recognised.
(With Agencies inputs)