PML-N Leader Khawaja Saad Rafique Takes a Bold Stand
Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has delivered a forceful statement condemning Israel’s continued aggression and human rights violations in Palestine, asserting that Israel’s defeat is now essential to ensure peace, stability, and justice in the Middle East.
Speaking to the media and in various political forums, Saad Rafique accused Israel of not only committing genocide against the Palestinian people but also of playing a covert role in assisting India’s anti-Pakistan conspiracies. The seasoned political figure emphasized the importance of international solidarity with oppressed people and called on Pakistan to stand by the global conscience.
Condemning Israeli Atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank
“Israel is Guilty of Genocide,” Says Rafique
Khawaja Saad Rafique strongly denounced the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, stating that these actions have gone far beyond any notion of self-defense and amount to a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
According to Rafique:
“Israel is brutally killing unarmed civilians, bombing hospitals, schools, and refugee camps. This is not war—it’s genocide. And the world must call it out for what it is.”
He further demanded that the United Nations and international human rights organizations should urgently investigate these war crimes and hold Israeli leadership accountable under international law.
Regional Destabilization: Israel’s Broader Impact Beyond Palestine
Linking Israeli Actions to Indian Aggression Against Pakistan
In a significant development, Rafique also alleged that Israel is indirectly supporting India’s aggressive policies against Pakistan. He claimed that military and intelligence cooperation between Israel and India has deepened over the years, particularly in the context of Indian-occupied Kashmir, where similar repressive tactics are being used against the local Muslim population.
“Just as Israel oppresses the Palestinians, India is doing the same to the Kashmiris. And both are cooperating in these brutal tactics. This axis of oppression must be broken,” said the PML-N leader.
This assertion aligns with a long-standing narrative in Pakistani political discourse, which views the India-Israel alliance as a threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and regional peace.
Support for Iran’s Resistance Against Israeli Aggression
“Iran’s Position is Justified” – Rafique Acknowledges Tehran’s Role
Saad Rafique openly supported Iran’s resistance against Israel, stating that Iran has taken a principled stand in defense of Muslim causes and oppressed communities. He said that Iran’s retaliatory stance following Israeli attacks was legitimate under international law, particularly under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which grants every state the right to self-defense.
“Iran is standing where the conscience of the world should stand. Pakistan must not remain neutral—it must speak out clearly and morally,” Rafique said, advocating for Pakistan to take a firmer position.
He further emphasized that Pakistan’s foreign policy should be realigned with the voices of justice and resistance against oppression in the Muslim world.
Demand for International Intervention
“Global Powers Must Wake Up” – A Call to the United Nations
Khawaja Saad Rafique urged the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and human rights watchdogs, to take immediate and practical steps to halt Israeli aggression.
He proposed the following urgent measures:
- Imposing economic sanctions on Israel for war crimes.
- Recognizing Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital.
- Supporting the creation of a UN Peacekeeping Mission to protect civilians in Gaza.
- Initiating war crimes investigations through the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Enough is enough. Silence is complicity. The world must act now to prevent another Holocaust—this time against the Palestinians.”
Pakistan’s Historical Stance on the Palestine Issue
A Legacy of Moral and Diplomatic Support
Pakistan has consistently supported the Palestinian cause since its inception and has never recognized the state of Israel. Its position has always been that a sovereign Palestinian state, with pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital, is essential for long-term peace in the Middle East.
Various Pakistani leaders over the decades—from Liaquat Ali Khan to Imran Khan—have maintained that Pakistan will never compromise on its principled stand on Palestine.
Khawaja Saad Rafique’s recent statement is therefore in alignment with Pakistan’s traditional foreign policy values, though it takes a more aggressive tone in calling for Israel’s defeat.
A Divided Global Response to the Middle East Crisis
Western Silence vs. Muslim World’s Outcry
While many Western powers, including the United States and certain European nations, continue to defend Israel’s military operations as acts of self-defense, large sections of the Muslim world and Global South view these actions as war crimes.
Massive protests in cities like Jakarta, Istanbul, Cairo, and Karachi reflect the growing anger in the Muslim world. In Pakistan, political and religious parties have organized country-wide rallies in support of Palestinians, and many civil society groups are calling for a boycott of Israeli goods and companies supporting Israeli policies.
Domestic Implications of Rafique’s Statement
Strengthening PML-N’s Foreign Policy Image
Khawaja Saad Rafique’s strong stance also serves a political purpose at home. It enhances the PML-N’s image as a party committed to Islamic solidarity and international justice for oppressed Muslims. In a political landscape where public sympathy for Palestine is deeply entrenched, such statements resonate with voters across party lines.
The PML-N, often seen as a moderate and centrist force, is using this opportunity to reclaim moral leadership on foreign policy issues, especially with the PTI-led opposition also vocal in condemning Israel.
Conclusion: A Moral, Strategic, and Political Imperative
Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement reflects a growing sense of urgency in Pakistan’s political circles that Israel’s unchecked aggression not only threatens Palestinians but regional stability and Pakistan’s own national security due to the India-Israel nexus.
By calling for Israel’s defeat, Rafique is not merely engaging in political rhetoric—he is aligning with international law, global conscience, and historical Pakistani values. His call for action is a reminder that peace cannot be achieved without justice, and that silence in the face of oppression is no longer acceptable.
As the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East continues to deteriorate, the world will be watching to see if more leaders echo Rafique’s words—or if they remain silent while humanity suffers.
