Pakistani Defense Minister

Fake news story sets off Israel-Pakistan Twitter feud

A fake news report erroneously attributing a nuclear threat against Pakistan by a former Israeli Defense Minister caused the Pakistani Minister of Defense to lash out on Twitter and remind Israel that 'Pakistan is a nuclear state too.'

Reuters | Published: 12.25.16, 23:06

A fake news story has touched off a tense Twitter confrontation between nuclear power Pakistan and Israel in an episode that underlines the potentially harmful impact of such stories in sensitive global affairs.

Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

In an apparent response to a fake story claiming Israel's former defense minister threatened a nuclear attack against Pakistan if it sends troops to Syria, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif reminded Israel that "Pakistan is a nuclear state too."

Pakistani Minister of Defense (Photo: Reuters)

Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming pak role in Syria against Daesh.Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear state too AH
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) December 23, 2016

Israel's Defense Ministry tweeted back Saturday, saying the original story on the site AWD News was "totally fictitious."

AWD has been identified by fact-checking organizations as a fake news site.

Israel maintains a policy of nuclear ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying the existence of an arsenal. Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998. The countries have no diplomatic ties.