Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday urged Muslim nations to forge unity and confront Israel collectively, warning that failure to act now would result in devastating consequences for the entire Islamic world.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Mr Asif said the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel had escalated dangerously, with Israel launching strikes on Iranian military installations and killing senior Iranian commanders.
“Israel is not alone in this aggression,” he remarked, adding that Israel has already targeted Yemen, Iran and Palestine. “If the Muslim world does not unite today, everyone’s turn will come,” he cautioned.
The minister stressed that Pakistan shares deep-rooted historical and cultural ties with Iran, calling the neighbouring country “our brother”. He said, “We stand with Iran in every trial. Their pain is our pain, their grief is our grief.”
Mr Asif called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to immediately convene an emergency meeting and formulate a unified stance against Israeli aggression. He lamented that despite the ongoing massacre of children in Palestine, the Islamic world remained largely silent.
“In contrast, non-Muslims in the West are coming out in protest against Israel’s actions. The conscience of the Western world is awakening, but the Muslim world remains unmoved,” he noted.
The defence minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding policy of non-recognition of Israel, stating that the country has neither established diplomatic ties nor recognised Tel Aviv.
He acknowledged that some individuals of Pakistani origin had visited Israel in recent years, but refrained from commenting on how they travelled or who facilitated their visits.
At a time when Israel faces growing criticism over its actions in Gaza and beyond, Mr Asif said it was imperative for Muslim-majority countries to sever all ties with Tel Aviv and develop a joint strategy to defend Muslim nations.
He criticised Muslim countries maintaining diplomatic or covert relations with Israel, saying: “These relations must be severed. Israel’s hands are stained with the blood of Muslims. We must not be shaking that hand.”
Turning to regional security issues, Mr Asif recalled Pakistan’s military response to the Balakot airstrikes by India in 2019, asserting that “a five-times larger enemy was brought to its knees” by Pakistan’s armed forces and the resolve of its people.
He also blamed India for funding and supporting terrorism in Pakistan, alleging that banned groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were acting as Indian proxies.
“Those who sympathise with such groups are betraying the nation,” he said, adding that any such support must be treated as an act of treason.
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