India, April 11 -- A fresh diplomatic dispute has erupted after Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, posted strongly worded remarks about Israel, prompting swift condemnation from Israeli officials, US lawmakers and international commentators at a sensitive moment for regional diplomacy.

In a post on the social media platform X, Asif described Israel as "evil" and "a curse for humanity," while accusing it of committing "genocide" in Lebanon.  

He also referred to ongoing violence involving Gaza and Iran, and included highly inflammatory language about the origins of Israel.

The comments came less than 50 hours before high-stakes diplomatic talks in Islamabad, where Pakistan is hosting discussions involving the US an...