India, April 10 -- Amid uncertainty over the future of the Iran-US war and ahead of likely negotiations in Islamabad this week, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has sparked anger from Israel after referring to nation as "evil" and a "cancerous state". Israel hit back at the Pakistani minister on Friday, casting doubts on the country's neutrality as a peace arbiter.

Khawaja Asif's remarks against Israel come at a time when Pakistan is playing the peacemaker in the US-Iran war, with likely talks between delegations of Tehran and Washington scheduled in Islamabad on Saturday.

Asif also accused Israel of carrying out a 'genocide' in Lebanon, saying Israel first killed innocents in Gaza and is now doing the same in Lebanon. "Israel is ...