Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has cast doubt on Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States. In recent remarks, Azar stated that Israel does not view Islamabad as a “credible player” in the diplomatic process.
While acknowledging that Washington may have its own reasons for utilizing Pakistan’s facilitation, he emphasized that Israel’s primary focus remains the total removal of terrorist infrastructure in Southern Lebanon.
These comments come ahead of high-level direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials scheduled for April 11, with reports suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance may travel to Islamabad for the meeting.
Azar drew a parallel between the current mediation efforts and previous instances where the U.S. worked with states like Qatar and Turkey to broker truces in Gaza. He stressed the importance of Israel staying in sync with the United States regarding the substance and eventual outcome of any regional agreement.
Regarding the conflict in Lebanon, Azar made a clear distinction between operations against Hezbollah and the broader negotiations with Iran. He reaffirmed that Israel’s objective in the north is to ensure southern Lebanon is cleared of Hezbollah capabilities, a responsibility he placed on the Lebanese government.
He noted that the Israeli Air Force recently conducted operations resulting in the removal of over 250 Hezbollah members, asserting that the group must be disarmed and removed from areas south of the Litani River to protect Israeli communities.
On the subject of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the ambassador expressed hope that negotiations would eventually eliminate what he described as the “existential threats” of Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production. While Israel has officially declared its support for the ceasefire, the situation remains fragile. Iran has accused Israel of jeopardizing the two-week halt in hostilities, warning that continued strikes in Lebanon could lead to a collapse of the agreement and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic landscape is further complicated by the scope of the current truce. Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have explicitly stated that Lebanon is excluded from the ceasefire terms.
As negotiations continue, the focus remains on whether the current 15-point plan can address the complex security concerns of all parties involved while maintaining a very delicate peace in the region.