“Cancerous state”: Pakistani Defense Minister calls ‘Israel’ evil amid US-Iran truce talks

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif denounced ‘Israel’ on Thursday, calling the country “evil and a curse for humanity” and a “cancerous state” while accusing it of committing genocide in Lebanon, even as US-Iran peace talks are set to begin in Islamabad this weekend.

In a post on X, Asif wrote: “Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated.”

He added: “I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell.”

The remarks, which drew immediate backlash from ‘Israel’, come as Pakistan — which has no diplomatic relations with ‘Israel’ and maintains a staunch pro-Palestinian stance — plays a high-profile role mediating indirect talks between Washington and Tehran to solidify a two-week ceasefire announced earlier this week.

‘Israel’s’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office labeled Asif’s comments “outrageous,” describing them as a direct call for the annihilation of the Jewish state.

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East following weeks of direct conflict involving ‘Israel’, Iran, Hezbollah, and the United States.

The US and Iran agreed earlier this to a two-week ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, after intense hostilities that included ‘Israeli’-US strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian retaliation across the region, including threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has insisted the truce covers Lebanon; the US and ‘Israel’ maintain it does not.

Formal talks between US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to begin in Islamabad as early as Friday or Saturday, with Pakistan’s Sharif hosting.

Hours after the ceasefire announcement, ‘Israel’ launched one of its largest air campaigns against Lebanon since the broader conflict intensified.

Reports indicate over 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured in a single day of strikes on Wednesday.

‘Israel’ has vowed to continue strikes against Hezbollah, stating there is “no ceasefire in Lebanon.” Hezbollah has responded with rocket fire into ‘Israel’.