Amid continuing tensions in West Asia, a fresh diplomatic controversy has erupted between Israel and Pakistan after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made strong remarks against Israel over its military operations in Lebanon. The incident has further escalated bilateral hostility, triggering sharp exchanges between both sides.
Khawaja Asif, in a post on the social media platform X, accused Israel of carrying out atrocities in Lebanon while peace talks were underway in Islamabad. He described Israel as a “curse on humanity” and alleged that it was responsible for civilian casualties in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon. The minister also used highly controversial language in his post, which he later deleted following widespread criticism.
Reacting strongly, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office condemned the remarks, calling them unacceptable and outrageous. It said that calls for the destruction of Israel from a country claiming to engage in peace diplomacy were deeply concerning and undermined international credibility. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also criticised the comments, stating that equating Israel with a “cancer” amounted to incitement and unacceptable provocation.
The diplomatic dispute has further deepened long-standing hostility between Israel and Pakistan, which traces back to Israel’s formation in 1948 and Pakistan’s refusal to recognize it as a sovereign state. Over the decades, Pakistan has aligned itself with several Arab nations opposing Israel, contributing to persistent political and strategic differences.
Tensions were further intensified during the Cold War and post-1960s regional conflicts, when Pakistan extended support to Arab states in wars against Israel. A major flashpoint in this history came in 1981, when Israel destroyed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor under Operation Opera, after which concerns reportedly emerged regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program. During this period, Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was allegedly considering targeting Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear facility, although no such operation was executed.
At present, Pakistan continues to maintain a firm policy stance against Israel, reflected in its official diplomatic position and state documentation. Israel’s strategic cooperation with India, particularly during conflicts such as the 1999 Kargil War, further strained relations and reinforced opposing alliances. The latest exchange over Lebanon has once again brought the decades-old geopolitical rivalry into sharp international focus.