Islamabad: In a fiery televised interview that has sent shockwaves across diplomatic circles, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif launched a blistering attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the United States and Turkey to “kidnap” him and bring him to justice over alleged atrocities in Gaza.
Speaking on Geo TV, Asif branded Netanyahu the “worst criminal of humanity” and “the biggest wanted criminal,” claiming no historical atrocities match Israel’s actions against Palestinians in the last 4,000-5,000 years. He referenced the recent US-led capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a precedent, stating, “If the US believes in humanity, it should kidnap Netanyahu and start proceedings in one of its courts.”
Asif added that Turkey could also abduct the Israeli leader, noting that “Pakistanis are praying for it.”
The remarks escalated further when Asif hinted at holding Netanyahu’s supporters accountable, prompting anchor Hamid Mir to abruptly call for a commercial break, warning that the comments could be considered a veiled reference to US President Donald Trump. After the interruption, reports suggest that Asif did not return to air.
Pakistan has long championed the Palestinian cause and has never recognised Israel while maintaining strong ties with Iran. Asif’s outburst comes amid ongoing global debates over Gaza, including ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
Israel responded indirectly through its Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, who firmly rejected any role for the Pakistani army in a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza, citing concerns over links between Hamas and Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The controversial clip has gone viral, drawing sharp criticism and highlighting deepening tensions in the region.