Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned remarks made by Pakistan regarding Israel, which included characterizations of the nation as a “curse for humanity” and a “cancerous state.” In a statement released on Friday, Netanyahu’s office expressed outrage over the comments made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, asserting that such a call for Israel’s destruction is unacceptable from any government, particularly one that purports to act as an impartial mediator for peace.
In his post on X, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated, “Israel is evil and a curse for humanity,” highlighting the ongoing violence in Lebanon amid peace talks taking place in Islamabad. He criticized Israel for its actions in Gaza and Iran, stating that innocent lives are being lost and expressing a wish for those responsible for creating Israel to “burn in hell.”
This statement has raised questions about Pakistan’s role as a neutral intermediary in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
While Asif’s comments were markedly aggressive towards Israel, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attempted to maintain a diplomatic stance. In a post on X shortly after Asif’s, Sharif mentioned a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to diplomatic efforts and the importance of adhering to a ceasefire to facilitate meaningful negotiations.
Earlier that day, Israel had expressed skepticism about Pakistan’s credibility in peace discussions. Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, stated that Israel does not view Pakistan as a credible participant in these efforts. He noted that the United States appears to be utilizing Pakistan in its diplomatic strategy for its own objectives, drawing parallels to previous instances where the U.S. engaged with other contentious states like Qatar and Turkey to advance negotiations with Hamas. Azar stressed the significance of aligning with the U.S. regarding desired outcomes.
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