Khawaja Asif's 'Trump' blunder on live TV? Anchor cuts off Pak defence minister, calls for a break

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif (File | AFP)

• Pakistan's defence minister called Netanyahu the "biggest criminal in history"
• Khawaja Asif suggested US should abduct Netanyahu and bring him to trial
• Anchor cut Asif off after he suggested Trump be punished for backing Netanyahu.

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A TV anchor had to cut short Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif midair after he indirectly hinted that US President Donald Trump should be "punished" for supporting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he described as the "biggest criminal in history".

In an interview to Geo TV, Asif launched an angry tirade against Netanyahu and hoped that US should kidnap the Israeli PM similar to how it abducted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

"Netanyahu is the most wanted criminal. America should abduct him and bring him to trial. If US is humanity's friend, it will do it," Asif said.

When anchor Hamid Mir floated the far-fetched idea of Turkey kidnapping Netanyahu and bringing him to Ankara, Asif said he prays that it happens.

The Pakistani minister added that Turkey should avenge what he is happening with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Big breaking News: Pakistan's sitting Defense Minister Khwaja Asif says on national TV channel that " He prays that Turkiye may succeed to abduct the Prime Minister of Israel @netanyahu because he is a wanted criminal".

It is worth noticing that Pakistan already got a 'blank… pic.twitter.com/qd2CO8Nm2V — Mir Yar Baloch (@miryar_baloch) January 8, 2026

"No community has done what Israel has done to Palestinians in the last 4,000-5,000 years. He [Netanyahu] is the biggest criminal of humanity. The world has not seen a bigger criminal," he said.

Without naming Trump, Asif then suggested that those backing the Israeli prime minister should also be punished. The anchor quickly appeared to grasp the gravity of the remark and cut him off.

“And the people who are supporting him, what does the law say about those supporting the guilty ...” Asif said.

Mir then intervened and called for a break. “Khawaja sahab, I’ll put a break here because you are the defence minister of Pakistan ... after hearing your words, many people will think you are talking about Trump. I don't know who you are talking about but I will take a break."

The anchor’s apparent attempt at damage control may have been driven by the broader backdrop of Pakistan trying to rebuild ties with US — particularly with Trump — in recent months.

Since Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has resorted to public flattery to woo Trump, with PM Shehbaz Sharif even backing the US President for a Nobel Peace Prize award. Islamabad has been cautious in navigating its ties with US while balancing its relationship with China, at a time when most other countries, including India, are facing rocky trade ties with Washington.