Pakistan's defence minister calls Israel 'curse for humanity' in deleted post
Middle East Eye • • general
Key Points:
- Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity" in a now-deleted X post, condemning Israeli actions in Lebanon just before US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad.
- The post came after Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed over 200 people and wounded more than 1,000, prompting widespread international condemnation.
- Israel's Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly condemned Asif's remarks, labeling them antisemitic and unacceptable from a supposed neutral peace mediator.
- The US and Iranian delegations are set to begin talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, but Iran demands the ceasefire extend to Lebanon before participating.
- Pakistan, playing a central role in mediating this conflict, is also dealing with its own border conflict with Afghanistan, complicating its position as a facilitator of peace.
