Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, has sharply responded to remarks made by Khawaja Asif, the defense minister of Pakistan, saying Islamabad cannot play the role of a mediator in regional conflicts.
Leiter reposted on his X account comments made by Asif in which he described Israel as a “cancer” in the region. In response, Leiter wrote: “The Ayatollahs chant ‘death to Israel,’ and now a so-called mediator repeats the same language. You are not a mediator — you are the problem.”
He added: “Whether you like it or not, Israel will remain. That is not up for negotiation.”
Following these remarks, Pakistan’s defense minister deleted the post from his X account in which he had called Israel “a cancer and a curse for humanity.”
Just hours earlier, Asif had written in the post: “Israel is evil and a curse for humanity. First Gaza, then Iran, and now Lebanon — and the bloodshed continues unabated.”
So far, Pakistani authorities have not issued an official response to the Israeli ambassador’s remarks. However, political analysts say the swift deletion of the post suggests that Islamabad’s stance may have shifted under international pressure.
