Pakistan is currently trying to play the role of the global peacemaker. It’s a bold move. On one hand, Islamabad is hosting high-level peace talks between the United States and Iran, flexing its diplomatic muscles to maintain a fragile two-week ceasefire. On the other hand, its own Defence Minister just set the room on fire with a single social media post.
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's Defence Minister, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to call Israel an "evil state" and a "curse for humanity." He didn't stop there. He expressed a hope that those who established Israel would "burn in hell" and accused the country of continuing a "genocide" in Lebanon and Gaza even while peace talks were supposedly moving forward in Islamabad. You might also find this similar coverage insightful: The Hollow Room in Islamabad.
The post was quickly deleted, but the damage was done. If you’re trying to convince the world you’re a neutral arbiter, calling one of the primary regional powers a "curse" isn't exactly the standard playbook. It’s a massive blunder that has left Israeli officials, including former spokespeople like Eylon Levy, questioning whether Pakistan is even capable of acting in good faith.
The good faith problem in modern diplomacy
Diplomacy isn't just about sitting at a table; it's about the optics of neutrality. Israel’s response was swift and predictably sharp. The Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem called the remarks "outrageous," stating they can't be tolerated from a government that claims to be a neutral facilitator of peace. As highlighted in recent coverage by TIME, the implications are significant.
Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy didn't mince words either. The core of his argument—and the sentiment echoing through Jerusalem—is that Pakistan isn't a good-faith actor. When a high-ranking cabinet member uses such inflammatory language, it signals that the state's internal ideology is fundamentally at odds with the neutral "mediator" mask it's wearing for the international community.
Think about the timing here. Pakistan is hosting these talks on April 10, 2026. The world is watching to see if a long-term settlement between the US and Iran is possible. By throwing this rhetorical hand grenade, Asif has effectively given Israel—and its allies—every reason to dismiss Pakistan's efforts as a front for a biased agenda. You can't be the referee if you're wearing the opponent's jersey under your blazer.
Why Khawaja Asif deleted the post
The deletion of the post tells its own story. It wasn't a change of heart; it was a desperate attempt at damage control. Pakistan is in a tight spot. They need the diplomatic "win" of successful mediation to boost their global standing and secure their own borders. They're terrified of a fragmented Iran, which could fuel militancy in Balochistan.
Yet, the domestic pressure in Pakistan is immense. The population is overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian and deeply critical of Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Asif was likely playing to the home crowd. It’s the classic "dual-audience" trap. He wanted the street cred in Islamabad but forgot that the internet doesn't have borders.
The Lebanon ceasefire confusion
A major point of contention in Asif's rant was the situation in Lebanon. Pakistan and Tehran have been claiming that the current two-week ceasefire includes Lebanon. Washington and Tel Aviv have flatly denied this. Since the "truce" began, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have actually intensified, with reports of hundreds of casualties.
From Asif’s perspective, Israel is violating the spirit of the talks. From Israel’s perspective, they never agreed to a Lebanon ceasefire in the first place. This gap in understanding is exactly why a mediator needs to be precise and calm—qualities that were nowhere to be found in that deleted post.
The fallout for Pakistans mediation dreams
Is Pakistan's role as a mediator dead? Not necessarily, but it's on life support. To regain any semblance of trust, Islamabad has to do more than just delete tweets.
- Trust is a currency. You spend it quickly and earn it slowly. Israel now has a "receipt" of Pakistan's bias that they can pull out at any international forum.
- The US factor. Washington is the other half of this peace talk equation. If the US feels Pakistan is too aligned with the "evil state" rhetoric, they'll move the talks elsewhere—likely Qatar or Oman.
- Internal consistency. The Pakistani government needs to decide if it wants to be a regional activist or a global diplomat. You can't be both during the same week.
If you're following this story, don't just look at the headlines about "outrage." Look at where the next round of talks is held. If the venue shifts away from Islamabad, we'll know that Khawaja Asif’s "curse" post was the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan's 2026 diplomatic ambitions.
The next few days are critical. Watch for whether the Pakistani Foreign Office issues a formal apology or if they double down on the rhetoric. If they stay silent, expect the peace talks to stall before they even really begin. Honestly, in the world of high-stakes diplomacy, silence is often just as loud as a deleted tweet.
