Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticised Pakistan after its defence minister described Israel in highly derogatory terms, saying remarks calling for Israel’s destruction were unacceptable.
In a statement, his office indicated that such comments could not be tolerated from any government, particularly one positioning itself as a neutral mediator in peace efforts.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had earlier posted on X, “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 in Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell.”
The exchange has raised doubts about Pakistan’s claim of neutrality in Middle East diplomacy, Indian Express reported.
Soon after Asif’s remarks, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed a more measured stance, stating that Pakistan remained committed to diplomatic engagement. He said, following a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, that both sides agreed that maintaining the ceasefire was crucial for meaningful and lasting negotiations. “We agreed that adherence to the ceasefire is of utmost importance in order for the negotiations to lead to meaningful and lasting results.”
Earlier, Israel had also expressed scepticism about Pakistan’s role in the peace process. Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India said Israel did not view Pakistan as a credible participant, suggesting that the United States may be involving Islamabad for its own strategic reasons. He added that Israel’s priority was to remain aligned with Washington on the broader goals and outcomes of the negotiations.