Defense Minister says ‘Zionist agenda’ risks regional realignment threatening Pakistan’s security as conflict widens
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warned that the conflict involving Iran could have wider regional consequences for Pakistan, saying the war is being driven by a Zionist agenda aimed at expanding Israeli influence towards Pakistan’s borders.
“Zionism is a threat to humanity. From the establishment of Israel in the land of Palestine until today, every catastrophe that has struck the Islamic world, every war that has been imposed on it, will show the direct or indirect hand of the Zionist ideology and state,” he writes in a post on X.
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He said such a development could create a hostile alignment involving Afghanistan, Iran and India, leaving Pakistan surrounded by adversaries and putting its security under threat.
«Zionism is a threat to humanity. From the establishment of Israel in the land of Palestine until today, every catastrophe that has struck the Islamic world, every war that has been imposed on it, will show the direct or indirect hand of the Zionist ideology and state. Zionism has…
– Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) March 3, 2026
Asif added that Pakistanis of all political and religious backgrounds needed to recognize what he described as a broader conspiracy against the country. He argued that the proposed regional realignment would make Pakistan’s borders insecure and risk reducing the country to a “vassal state”. His comments came as he linked the current conflict to long-standing regional tensions, framing it as part of a broader struggle involving Pakistan’s sovereignty and strategic position.
The minister also praised Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent and armed forces, paying tribute to the country’s martyrs and veterans, while praising former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for authorizing nuclear tests that declared Pakistan a nuclear power. He ended his message with prayers for the unity of the Islamic world, support for Palestine, and continued strength and security for Pakistan.
“May Palestine be free. May our homeland remain strong and secure until the Day of Judgment.”
Iran-United States/Israel War
The broader conflict has continued to escalate, with US President Donald Trump warning that a “major wave” of attacks on Iran was yet to come, while senior US officials said the campaign could take time and involve more casualties. Washington said it aimed to degrade Iran’s missiles, naval assets and broader security infrastructure, even as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted the operation would not become an “endless war”.
The fighting has also spread beyond Iran, and Israel said it carried out attacks in Beirut against Hezbollah-linked sites and senior figures, after Hezbollah acknowledged launching missiles and drones toward Israel. Iranian state media reported new missile launches at Israeli targets, while residents in Tehran and Beirut described explosions and panic as the confrontation expanded on multiple fronts.
Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, joined the United States in condemning Iranian missile and drone attacks across the region. Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog said the Natanz nuclear facility had been hit by US and Israeli strikes.
The consequences are increasingly felt outside the battlefield. Maritime traffic in and around the Gulf has been disrupted, major airports in the Middle East have faced closures and hundreds of Iranians were seen crossing into Turkey as fears of further escalation grew. The growing crisis has also increased political pressure in the United States, where polls cited in the report suggested only limited public support for a prolonged military campaign.
