Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called on Muslim countries to unite against the “rogue state” that is Israel, after it attacked Qatari capital Doha to assassinate Hamas leadership.

 

It was the first such attack by Israel on Qatar, which has been a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, and hosts the region’s largest United States (US) military base.

 

With Qatar calling it a flagrant violation of international law and condemnations pouring in from around the globe, Asif in a post on X said it was time for Muslim countries to unite against Israel as its agenda was to “comprehensively deal with the Muslim world and neutralise whatever economic power they have”.

 

“Thinking that going soft on Israel will keep them safe is a folly,” the defence czar wrote.

 

Asif said that Pakistan was an “economically vulnerable state” but had a resolute government with valiant and professional armed forces, adding that the country had just recently confronted a five times larger state and “taught them a lesson”.

 

“No one underwrites security for you, outside help matters, but invincibility comes from within,” he said.

 

 

The post came shortly after Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif “strongly condemned the unlawful and heinous bombing in Doha by Israeli forces”.

 

“Our deepest sympathies and solidarity are with the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari Royal Family, as well as the people of Qatar at this difficult time,” he said.

 

Terming the Israeli act of aggression as “totally unjustified” and “a brazen violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar”, the premier maintained that the aggression constituted a dangerous provocation that could imperil regional peace and stability.

 
“Pakistan stands firmly with the State of Qatar, as well as with the people of Palestine against Israel’s aggression,” he concluded.