'Zionist agenda aims to encircle Pakistan': Khawaja Asif warns of regional fallout from Iran War

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warned that the escalating conflict involving Iran could have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan, alleging that the war is being driven by a “Zionist agenda” aimed at expanding Israeli influence toward Pakistan’s borders.

In a post on X, Asif said, “Zionism is a threat to humanity. From the establishment of Israel on the land of Palestine until today, every catastrophe that has befallen the Islamic world, every war imposed upon it, will show the direct or indirect hand of Zionist ideology and the state.”

The minister argued that the unfolding regional situation could create a hostile alignment involving Afghanistan, Iran and India, effectively encircling Pakistan and placing its national security under severe strain. He cautioned that such a realignment would render Pakistan’s borders increasingly insecure and risk reducing the country to a “vassal state.”

Asif called on Pakistanis across political and religious divides to recognise what he described as a broader conspiracy against the country. Linking the current hostilities to long-standing regional tensions, he framed the crisis as part of a larger struggle over Pakistan’s sovereignty and strategic position.

He also praised Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent and armed forces, paying tribute to the country’s martyrs and veterans. The defence minister commended former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for authorising the nuclear tests that declared Pakistan a nuclear power, describing the decision as a cornerstone of national security.

“May Palestine be free. May our homeland remain strong and safe until the Day of Judgment,” he concluded.

Conflict widens across region

The broader confrontation continues to intensify. US President Donald Trump warned that a “big wave” of attacks on Iran was still to come, while senior US officials indicated the campaign could extend over time and involve further casualties. Washington has said its objective is to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, naval assets and wider security infrastructure, even as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth maintained that the operation would not turn into an “endless war.”

Fighting has spread beyond Iran’s borders. Israel said it carried out strikes in Beirut targeting Hezbollah-linked sites and senior figures after Hezbollah acknowledged launching missiles and drones toward Israel. Iranian state media reported fresh missile launches aimed at Israeli targets, as residents in Tehran and Beirut described explosions and scenes of panic.

Several 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. Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog said the Natanz nuclear facility had been struck in US-Israeli attacks.

The conflict’s fallout is increasingly being felt beyond the battlefield. Shipping routes in and around the Gulf have faced disruptions, major airports across the Middle East have experienced closures, and hundreds of Iranians have crossed into Turkey amid fears of further escalation.

The crisis has also triggered political debate in the United States, where polling cited in international reports suggests limited public support for a prolonged military campaign, even as hostilities show no immediate signs of abating.