New Delhi, April 10 -- Israel strongly condemned what it called "outrageous" comments by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, questioning Pakistan's credibility as a "neutral mediator."

"Pakistan Defence Minister's call for Israel's annihilation is outrageous," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X. "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace," the PMO said Thursday evening.

Pakistan has been credited with mediating a temporary two-week ceasefire between US and Iran and is preparing to host peace talks over the weekend.

However, Asif, in a social media post, called Israel "evil" and a "curse for humanity", giving a call ...