Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Pakistan Minister's Israel Remarks Called Incendiary, Genocidal and Reckless
Some important countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, recently signed a special agreement to help protect each other.
The very next day, Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said that Israel should not be allowed to exist and that Muslim countries should join together to fight against it.
A newspaper in Israel called his words very dangerous and said they could put many people in harm's way.
Nearly half of all the Jewish people in the world live in Israel, so attacking it would hurt a lot of them.
The newspaper said Asif's speech sounds like a promise to hurt a whole group of people, which is very serious.
It also said other Muslim leaders should clearly say they disagree with what he said.
The newspaper wants Pakistan's leader, Shehbaz Sharif, to tell everyone whether or not he agrees with Asif's words.
It said countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations should say these words are wrong.
Different people in the world have very different opinions about this disagreement.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called Israel an illegitimate state and 'a threat to the entire Muslim world,' urging Muslim countries to form 'a united military front' against it.
A Times of Israel report described Asif's remarks as 'incendiary, genocidal and reckless' and said responsible Muslim governments and leaders should repudiate him.
The remarks came a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which Turkey's foreign minister reportedly compared to Article 5 of NATO.
The report said Asif denied the legitimacy of Israel itself rather than criticizing specific policies, warning that a military campaign to destroy Israel would put millions of Jews at risk.
The report urged Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to clarify whether the remarks reflect government policy and called on Saudi Arabia, Turkey, NATO allies, the US, UK, EU, and UN to condemn the statement.
- Who
- Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, criticized in a Times of Israel report; Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif; the governments of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the US, UK, EU, and the UN.
- What
- Asif called Israel an illegitimate state and a threat to the Muslim world, urging a united Muslim military front against it, drawing accusations of genocidal rhetoric.
- When
- The remarks came a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
- Where
- The remarks came from Pakistan, with the critical report dispatched from Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Why
- Asif denied Israel's legitimacy and called for military confrontation; critics argue such a campaign would endanger millions of Jews, constituting a genocidal threat.
Asif's Position
Critics' Position
Legitimacy of Israel
Asif's Position
Israel is an illegitimate state and a threat to the entire Muslim world, so military action against it is justified.
Critics' Position
Denying Israel's legitimacy and calling for a military front against it is a genocidal threat, since Israel is home to nearly half the world's Jews.
Role of Muslim Governments
Asif's Position
Muslim countries should unite militarily against Israel, and responsible Muslim leaders should back this effort.
Critics' Position
Responsible Muslim governments and leaders should repudiate Asif, and Saudi Arabia and Turkey must ensure their new pact cannot be invoked for aggression against Israel.
- Speaker
- Khawaja Asif, Pakistan Defence Minister
- Core Claim
- Israel is an illegitimate state and 'a threat to the entire Muslim world'
- Proposed Action
- Muslim countries should form 'a united military front' against Israel
- Context
- Remarks came a day after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement
- Criticism
- Times of Israel report called the remarks 'incendiary, genocidal and reckless'
- Demand on Pakistan
- PM Shehbaz Sharif must clarify whether the remarks reflect government policy
- Calls for Condemnation
- US, UK, EU, UN Secretary-General, NATO allies, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey
- Key Context
- Israel is home to nearly half the Jews in the world