Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday urged all the Muslim countries to unite against Israel, warning that failure to do so will eventually result in every nation facing similar aggression.
Addressing the National Assembly, he emphasized that the Muslim world is at a critical juncture and must act decisively.
‘The war between Iran and Israel is ongoing. Just on Thursday night, Israel launched an attack on Iran, targeting its military installations and killing senior military officials,” Khawaja Asif stated. He added that Israel is not acting alone in these operations.
He highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Iran, saying, “Iran is our neighboring country, and we have centuries-old relations. In this time of trial, Pakistan stands firmly with Iran in every possible way. Their grief is our grief-our pain is shared.”
Khawaja Asif went on to point out that Israel is not only targeting Iran but also Yemen and Palestine, calling for immediate unity in the Islamic world. “If the Muslim world does not unite today and remains silent, then every Muslim country will face the same fate.”
The Defence Minister called for an urgent session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), urging Muslim nations to collectively confront Israel’s aggression. “Children are being martyred in Palestine while Islamic countries remain silent. Around the world, non-Muslim citizens in Western nations are protesting against Israel. Their conscience has awakened-yet the Muslim world remains unmoved.”
He reiterated Pakistan’s firm and longstanding stance on the issue. “We have never recognized Israel nor established any diplomatic ties. While some Pakistani-origin individuals may have visited Israel in recent years, I won’t go into the details of how or why-but that does not reflect the state’s position.”
Khawaja Asif criticized Muslim countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, urging them to sever those ties. “Israel’s hands are stained with the blood of Muslims-these hands must be rejected. The Muslim world must come together to devise a strategy to counter Israel effectively.”
Recalling Pakistan’s military response to Indian aggression, he stated, “When India attacked us, we defeated an enemy five times our size. Khawaja Asif said India had paid a heavy price for attacking Pakistan. The Indian leadership was humiliated, and India’s false image before the world collapsed, he said.
‘On Thursday night, Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, and Israel was not alone-it was fully supported and shielded by others,” he added. In conclusion, the Minister called for practical and united steps that would demonstrate the strength and solidarity of the Islamic world.
Khawaja Asif also admitted that inflation exists but questioned how much the rate has slowed. He noted that the stock market has reached 125,000 points.