The US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory have spooked Pakistan, which shares an over 900-km-long border with Iran. On Tuesday, Pakistani Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, alleged a “Zionist plan” behind the ongoing armed conflict in Iran that was aimed at turning Pakistan into a “vassal state”. He said an Israeli victory could give rise to a coordinated plan, involving Afghanistan, India and Iran.
Pakistan is engaged in an “open war” with Taliban-led Afghanistan and fought a mini-war with India in May 2025. Iran shares a border running along Pakistan’s Balochistan province, which has been the hotbed of insurgency for decades.
In a post on X, Asif alleged that Zionism, referring to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish homeland, had played a “direct or indirect” role in all conflicts affecting the Islamic world ever since the creation of Israel in 1948. He claimed that Zionist ideology was the driving force in any large-scale conflict in the Muslim world. He further claimed that “major global powers were held hostage by Zionism” and that Zionists were the ones dictating the course of the global economy for decades.
Referring to the current conflict between Iran, Israel and the US, Asif alleged that “a war had been imposed on them” in spite of Tehran’s willingness to negotiate. This war, he claimed, was “orchestrated by Zionists” with the express purpose of extending Israel’s influence towards Pakistan’s borders.
The minister then warned that should Israel emerge victorious, it would then lead to India, Afghanistan and Iran adopting a “joint single point agenda” of enmity towards Pakistan. This, according to Asif, would make the country’s borders insecure and “surrounding us with enemies from all sides and turning Pakistan into a vassal state”.
Khawaja Asif beseeched Pakistan’s 250 million citizens to recognise this “conspiracy” and the intentions of “our mutual enemies”, regardless of political or religious differences.
KHAWAJA ASIF CALLS FOR UNITY AMONG MUSLIM NATIONS
Asif also reaffirmed Pakistan’s status as a nuclear power, which he argued was protecting Pakistan from the “Zionists” and claimed that “the might of our armed forces is recognised worldwide”. He acknowledged the role of former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Shariff for his role in the 1998 nuclear tests which formally declared the country’s nuclear weapons capability.
The minister also expressed support for Palestine, saying, “May Palestine be free,” and offered prayers for Pakistan’s continued strength and security. He concluded by calling for unity among Muslim-majority countries, urging them to recognise shared challenges and act collectively.
Asif’s remarks come in the backdrop of an intense military confrontation between the US and Israel on one side, with Iran on the other. The conflict started with US and Israeli strikes decimating large sections of Iran’s military and clerical echelons, including killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It has since then set the Middle East ablaze as Tehran fired drones and missiles targeting at least 11 other countries, like Bahrain, Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and others.
Khawaja Asif’s claims align with the Pakistani narrative. Pakistan, despite exporting terror and starting proxy wars against India, has tried to portray New Delhi as its primary enemy. After falsely linking ethnic Baloch rebels to India, it is now calling the Afghan Taliban, which it nurtured for decades, an “Indian proxy”. That Pakistan considers itself surrounded by enemies is a commentary on its self-destructive policies.
