Islamabad – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif voiced strong criticism on Wednesday regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent military actions against Iran. Speaking on social media platform X, Asif argued that Netanyahu’s strikes were a calculated move designed to divert international attention away from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This statement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in what are believed to be coordinated US-Israeli operations.
Asif, Netanyahu’s decision to target Iran is not merely a strategic military maneuver but a deliberate attempt to shift the global narrative. He emphasized that the international media’s current focus on Iran’s situation provides Netanyahu with the opportunity to continue his aggressive policies in Gaza and the West Bank with less scrutiny. The Defence Minister described this as a “genocidal agenda,” highlighting the severe consequences for Palestinian civilians caught in the conflict.
Expanding on his remarks, Khawaja Asif condemned Netanyahu’s personal ambitions, labeling them as “demonic” and attributing to them the deepening tragedy engulfing Palestine and the broader Middle East. He painted a grim picture of the region’s suffering, calling it one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history. The Defence Minister’s comments underscore Pakistan’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause and its concern over the destabilizing effects of Israeli policies.
Earlier on Tuesday, Asif had also warned about the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict, particularly the Zionist agenda behind the confrontation with Iran. He suggested that Israel’s strategic objectives include extending its influence dangerously close to Pakistan’s borders. This, he cautioned, could pose a direct threat to Pakistan’s national security, especially given the involvement of Western powers and their allies in the region’s complex power dynamics.
In his critique, Asif did not hold back in condemning Zionism itself, describing it as a persistent threat to global peace and stability. He traced the roots of ongoing conflicts and calamities in the Islamic world back to the establishment of Israel on Palestinian land, asserting that Zionist ideology has been a driving force behind many wars and crises. Furthermore, he claimed that Zionism has exerted significant control over the global economic system for decades, effectively holding major world powers hostage to its interests.
These statements by Khawaja Muhammad Asif reflect Pakistan’s critical stance on Israeli policies and its broader concerns about regional security and international power structures. As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, the Defence Minister’s remarks highlight the interconnected nature of these conflicts and the potential repercussions for countries far beyond the immediate battlegrounds.