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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja M. Asif on Sunday warned Western governments that their support for Israel risked unleashing “catastrophic consequences,” citing concerns over Israel’s nuclear capabilities and regional aggression.

Tensions have surged in the Middle East following Israel’s June 13 “Operation Rising Lion” aerial offensive targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, reportedly killing more than 130 people, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone barrages on Israeli cities, sparking concerns of a wider conflict. 

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons but maintains a policy of ambiguity and is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The 1970 accord is aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting disarmament, and ensuring peaceful use of nuclear technology. Pakistan is also not a signatory to the NPT but frequently underscores its commitment to nuclear safety and non-proliferation principles through other international frameworks.

Analysts warn that in the current volatile situation, Israel’s unacknowledged nuclear weapons could encourage it to take more aggressive steps, increasing the risk that the conflict could spread across the region or even spark a wider international crisis.

“World should be wary and apprehensive about Israel’s nuclear prowess, a country not bound by any international nuclear discipline,” Asif said in a post on social media platform X. “It is not signatory to NPT or any other binding arrangement.”

The minister contrasted Israel’s position with Pakistan’s, stating that Islamabad was a signatory to “all international nuclear disciplines” and maintained a nuclear program solely for “the benefit of our people and defense of our country against hostile designs.”

“We do not pursue hegemonic policies against our neighbors,” Asif added, accusing Israel of doing just that through its military actions. 

“Western world must worry about conflicts being generated by Israel. It will engulf the whole region and beyond. Their patronage of Israel, a rogue state, can have catastrophic consequences.”

The Pakistani minister’s comments come amid growing international concern over the humanitarian toll of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, as well as fears that the conflict could expand regionally following tensions with Iran and Hezbollah.

There was no immediate response from Israeli or Western officials to Asif’s remarks.

QUETTA: Pakistani authorities have closed two major border crossings with Iran for pedestrian traffic amid escalating cross-border strikes between Iran and Israel, officials in the southwestern Balochistan province said on Sunday.

The closures affect the Taftan crossing in Chaghi district and the Gabd-Rimdan crossing in Gwadar district, both key routes for cross-border movement and local trade between Balochistan and Iran. 

The Gabd-Rimdan border crossing is a point on the Iran-Pakistan border, specifically at “BP-250,” the second crossing along the 900-kilometer border between the two countries. The crossing facilitates trade and people-to-people contact between Iran and Pakistan.

“All kinds of pedestrian movement at the Gabd-Rimdan-250 border have been suspended due to the Iran-Israel conflict,” Jawad Ahmed Zehri, assistant commissioner for Gwadar, told Arab News.

Trade activity at the crossing would remain open and Pakistani citizens stranded in Iran would be allowed to return, he said, but no new entries into Iran would be permitted through this point until further notice.

In a separate order, authorities also closed the Taftan border crossing in Chaghi district for pedestrian traffic.

“We have closed pedestrian movements at the Taftan border until further notice,” said Naveed Ahmed, assistant commissioner for Taftan, adding that trade and customs operations from the crossing were continuing as usual.

The closures are expected to affect daily wage laborers, small-scale traders and local residents who depend on frequent cross-border movement for commerce, supplies and family visits.

Small items such as fruit, vegetables and household goods are commonly traded by hand or in small vehicles along these routes.

The closures come amid heightened tensions following Israeli strikes on Iranian cities since Friday with scores killed, including senior Iranian military commanders.

The bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Iran reached $2.8 billion in the last fiscal year, which ended in June. Both countries have signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of increasing this volume to $10 billion.

Iran also supplies about 100 megawatts of electricity to border towns in Balochistan.