Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has purged a divisive post on X (previously Twitter) in which he called Israel a “cancerous state” and “a curse for humanity,” in a move that has ricocheted through the diplomatic corridors of West Asia and the Western world so forcefully that it echoes the conversation in one of the great debates in the Muslim world. That deletion follows strong international condemnation and fears that the comments could wreck the high-stakes peace talks taking place now in Islamabad.
The Controversial Remarks
This post on April 9, coincided with the arrival of delegations of international leaders to discuss indirect negotiations among the United States and Iran. Asif slammed Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, calling the nation "genocide" in his post.
"As negotiations for peace are being conducted in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon," the since-deleted post read. “I wish and pray those who wrought this diseased state on Palestinian soil … burn in hell." The Minister also called the Jewish state "evil" and "a curse for humanity," moves immediately condemned by outside observers as "antisemitic blood libels" and a direct appeal to destroy a sovereign nation.
Israel and the US React With Fury
Jerusalem's response was swift and severe. The Israeli prime minister's office, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the rhetoric was "outrageous," with questions about Pakistan's ability to serve as a neutral third party. Netanyahu’s Office: “This is not a statement that can be tolerated by any government, and especially not by a state whose government says it is a neutral arbiter of peace.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar: He called the statements "clear antisemitic blood libels," and indicated that calling the country "cancerous" in essence is an assertion to destroy the state. In Washington, US Congressman Josh Gottheimer characterized the post as "vile rhetoric" that was "unacceptable and unproductive" at a fragile diplomatic moment. Critics say the comments show Pakistan isn’t a neutral player, which puts into question its new status as a facilitator of Middle East de-escalation.
Diplomatic Fallout and Deletion
It could be that the post is being taken down in the name of damage control by Pakistan’s authorities. In Islamabad, it has been casting itself as a central centre for American-Iran engagement, hoping to reassess and settle the region in the wake of the 2025-26 escalations.
It was then brought into even sharper relief by a recent “post gaffe” by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose official account inadvertently published a “Draft” message on the Iran war earlier this week. These consecutive social media blunders have questioned the administration’s communications with its own public and the administration’s promise of a “neutral” foreign policy.
Status: Pakistanite Progress with Peace Talks
Despite the controversy, talks to hold the peace summit remain under extreme security. The talks are aimed at formalizing a more generalized regional ceasefire and addressing the volatile border tensions in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. But analysts say Asif’s remarks have given a “diplomatic weapon” to those who object to Pakistan’s mediation. It is up to the end referee whether deleting the post will bring Pakistan back to the position of a “neutral arbiter” or not as the first round of talks officially starts.
