Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described jailed former prime minister Imran Khan as a “proxy” for pro-Israel supporters as he reiterates his claims about the international conspiracy behind the PTI founder’s case.

“The international backing for former Prime Minister Imran Khan has drawn attention due to its origins from nations known for their staunch support of Israel,” he said in a post on X on Saturday.

The PTI founder is in jail for more than a year for graft cases. In the recent past, lawmakers in the US have expressed concerns over the Khan’s detention and “rule of law” in Pakistan.

Leaders of the ruling coalition have rebuffed such demands and said that anyone’s arrest is Pakistan’s internal matter.

On Thursday, the defence minister also made similar statements and claimed that it was part of “Operation Goldsmith” which he claimed was led by Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith’s brother Zac Goldsmith.

Zac dismissed such allegations and called it “very Jewish”.

According to Asif, critics argue that such countries, which have historically facilitated the existence of Israel, have remained silent on the “genocide” of Palestinians. “Instead, they are seen as complicit in the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.”

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The individuals and entities advocating for Khan’s return to power “are often perceived as either openly supporting Zionist policies or as aligning with anti-Muslim agendas,” the defence minister said.

“Is this mere a coincidence that these countries and people are working on an agenda by which Imran Khan will become proxy for them , potentially reducing Pakistan to a client state under foreign influence.”

He alleged that the concern was that if Khan regained power, he may be tasked with implementing a “hidden agenda” that could compromise Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and national interests.