- Israel condemns Pakistan Defence Minister's "outrageous" comments.
- Pakistan minister called Israel "evil," advocated its annihilation.
- Israeli envoy questions Pakistan's credibility as peace mediator.
In a strong denouncement of "outrageous" remarks made by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Israel has raised doubts about his country's role as a "neutral arbiter". "Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X. This forced the Pakistani minister to delete the social media post as Islamabad is set to host high-profile peace talks in the national capital. However, Asif did not disclose the reason behind the post deletion.
"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 PMO said Thursday evening.
The Prime Minister's Office:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2026
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.
Israel views very gravely these blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to “mediate peace”.
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 9, 2026
Calling the Jewish state “cancerous” is effectively calling for its annihilation.
Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction. https://t.co/CCMveNi9Qu
Khawaja Asif's remarks amid Pakistan mediating ceasefire
Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend. However, Asif, in a social media post, called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", giving a call "to get rid of European Jews".
Asif also claimed that as "peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon".
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"Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated," Asif said. "I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell," he added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned Asif's comments, saying, "These blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace." "Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar said.
What Israeli envoy to India said on Pakistan's mediation role
On Pakistan's role as a mediator, Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, cast doubt on the seriousness of the country, given the history of its terrorism. The envoy said he does not see Pakistan as a “credible player” and noted the Trump administration has decided to use Islamabad “for their own reasons”. “We don't see Pakistan as a credible player. I think that the United States has decided to use the services of the facilitation of Pakistan for their own reasons,"said Azar.
"We have seen in the past how the United States has managed to take problematic states like Qatar and Turkey and use them for the benefit of achieving an agreement with Hamas... For us, it is very important to stay in sync with the United States when it comes to the substance and the essence of the outcome we want to see,” he added.