A controversial claim has emerged alleging that Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, planned to assassinate Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with members of a Pakistani delegation attending Iran-related peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland. The allegation was made by Brazilian journalist and geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar but has since been strongly disputed by Pakistani journalists and remains unverified.
Pakistan has recently positioned itself as a mediator in efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran. The initial framework for these diplomatic efforts has reportedly been referred to as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with subsequent discussions taking place in Geneva. Senior officials, including US Vice President JD Vance, were said to have participated in the negotiations.
The allegation surfaced during a podcast hosted by political commentator Mario Nawfal, where Escobar claimed that Pakistani military intelligence had obtained what he described as highly credible information suggesting Mossad was preparing an assassination attempt targeting Munir and possibly other members of the Pakistani delegation during the talks in Switzerland.
According to Escobar, the alleged operation was supposedly being carried out under the direction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He further claimed that Pakistani authorities responded through diplomatic channels after receiving the intelligence.
Escobar stated that Pakistan sent a warning to Israel through intermediaries, which he suggested may have included Oman. According to his account, the message conveyed that any attack on the Pakistani delegation would provoke an extremely serious response.
Despite the dramatic nature of the allegation, no evidence has been publicly presented to support the claim. Neither the Pakistani nor the Israeli government has confirmed the existence of any such plot, and the story has not been independently verified.
The claim emerged shortly after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a delegation involved in diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Field Marshal Asim Munir was reportedly part of those high-level engagements.
Broader Diplomatic Context
Relations between Pakistan and Israel have historically been strained. Pakistan does not formally recognise Israel, and the two countries do not maintain official diplomatic relations.
Tensions have also been heightened by recent comments from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who sharply criticised Israel while discussing regional ceasefire efforts. His remarks drew criticism from Israeli officials, who questioned Pakistan’s ability to act as a neutral mediator while senior government representatives were making strongly worded statements against Israel.
At the same time, Israeli leaders have expressed concerns over diplomatic efforts involving Iran, arguing that they were not sufficiently consulted during negotiations. Ongoing military operations involving Iran-backed groups in the region have further complicated the situation.
Pakistani Journalists Dismiss the Allegation
The assassination claim has faced significant pushback from journalists and commentators in Pakistan. Several media figures have described the story as lacking factual support and dismissed it as speculation.
Reports from Pakistan-based media outlets quoted journalists who rejected the allegation outright. Veteran journalist Syed Talat Hussain publicly denied the claim, stating that there was no truth to the story and that no such incident had occurred.
He also cited information from a senior Pakistani security official who reportedly characterised the allegation as misleading propaganda.
As of now, Pakistan’s military establishment and government have not issued any statement confirming the existence of an assassination plot. Israeli authorities have likewise not publicly addressed the allegation.
In the absence of official confirmation or supporting evidence, the claim remains unverified and continues to circulate primarily through online discussions and media commentary.
