![\"Pakistan,](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130157999,imgsize-531910,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/article-30.jpg\" "\\"Khwaja")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nIsrael on Thursday sharply criticised remarks by Khawaja Asif<\/a>, questioning Pakistan<\/a>\u2019s credibility as a neutral player in ongoing regional diplomacy. The response came after Asif posted a series of comments on social media targeting Israel. Reacting to those statements, the PMO said, \u201cPakistan Defence Minister\u2019s call for Israel\u2019s annihilation is outrageous.\u201d \u201cThis is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace,\u201d it added.The controversy comes at a sensitive moment, with Pakistan having been credited with brokering a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and preparing to host fresh peace talks over the weekend. It emerged when Asif, in his remarks, described Israel as \u201cevil\u201d and a \u201ccurse for humanity\u201d, and called \u201cto get rid of European Jews\u201d. He also linked the ongoing diplomatic efforts to developments on the ground, saying, \u201cpeace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon\u201d. \u201cInnocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated,\u201d Asif had said. \u201cI hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell,\u201d he added. Separately, Israeli foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar also condemned the remarks, stating, \u201cThese blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace.\u201d \u201cIsrael will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction,\u201d Sa\u2019ar said.<\/div>\n\n