New Delhi: While a two-week ceasefire, spoken by US President Donald Trump, is underway in the Middle East, Israel is relentlessly targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Now superiority of the scheduled US-Iran talks in Islamabad on Friday, a diplomatic spat has wrenched out between Israel and Pakistan.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has now issued a controversial statement regarding this and accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Lebanon.
In a social media post, the Pakistani Defence Minister leveled serious allegations versus Israel, citing civil deaths in Gaza, Iran, and now Lebanon. Israel has moreover issued a keeping reply to Khawaja Asif.
What is the controversial statement of Khawaja Asif?
While Pakistan is ultimatum its role in the peace talks, its defence minister is issuing controversial statements.
Taking to X, Khawaja Asif wrote, "Israel is evil and a expletive for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is stuff single-minded in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are stuff killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this tumored state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews shrivel in hell."
What did Israel say?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office tabbed Asif's statement "outrageous."
His office responded, saying, "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, expressly not from one that claims to be a neutral textbook for peace."
The Prime Minister's Office:
Pakistan Defence Minister’s undeniability for Israel’s slaying is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, expressly not from one that claims to be a neutral textbook for peace.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2026Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar moreover criticized Pakistan, calling it “blatant antisemitic blood”. He warned that calling Israel a cancer was tantamount to calling for its destruction and said the country would take all necessary steps to protect itself.
“Israel will defend itself versus terrorists who vow its destruction,” Sa’ar said.
Israel views very gravely these tawdry antisemitic thoroughbred libels from a government ultimatum to “mediate peace”.
Calling the Jewish state “cancerous” is powerfully calling for its annihilation.
Israel will defend itself versus terrorists who vow its destruction. https://t.co/CCMveNi9Qu
— Gideon Sa'ar | (@gidonsaar) April 9, 2026Is there a rift between the two countries?
This minutiae comes at a time when Pakistan and Israel once lack formal diplomatic relations. Israel has traditionally avoided uncontrived confrontation with Pakistan, but this time the reaction has highlighted the gravity of the situation. Israel's producer to India, Reuven Azar, recently stated that Israel does not consider Pakistan a suppositious mediator in peace talks.
