Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Rothschild meeting in London has triggered a wave of criticism on social media, with opponents highlighting the historical association of the Rothschild family with Zionism and Jewish settlement in Palestine.
Sharif met Lord Mark Sedwill, Chair of Geostrategic Advisory at Rothschild & Co, and Majid Ishaq, the company’s Head of UK Investment Banking, on September 29. According to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, discussions focused on Pakistan’s geo-economic priorities and potential advisory cooperation involving capital markets and investment strategy.
The meeting drew particular attention because Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has maintained that recognition would depend on resolving the Palestinian issue. Critics on X and Reddit questioned the optics of engaging with Rothschild & Co while Pakistan continues to publicly oppose recognition of Israel.
What was discussed at the meeting?
The Rothschild meeting was part of Sharif’s wider engagement with international financial institutions during his UK visit. He also met representatives of Barclays, JP Morgan, Citi and BlackRock as Pakistan sought greater international investment and financial cooperation.
The Pakistani PMO said the discussions with Rothschild & Co focused on potential advisory collaboration. There has been no announcement that the company has formally been appointed as Pakistan’s financial adviser.
Importantly, Sharif met executives of Rothschild & Co, not members of the Rothschild family or Israeli officials.
Why did the meeting trigger controversy?
Criticism largely centred on the Rothschild family’s historical role in Zionism. Lionel Walter Rothschild received the Balfour Declaration in 1917, while Edmond James de Rothschild provided substantial financial support to Jewish settlements in Ottoman Palestine.
However, describing the Rothschild family simply as the “founders of Israel” oversimplifies a much broader historical process involving Britain, the Zionist movement, Jewish communities and other political actors.
The controversy has also revived political attacks involving former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has previously faced accusations from political opponents over alleged links to a “Jewish lobby”.
For now, the meeting remains officially framed as an economic and financial engagement, while its political symbolism continues to fuel debate in Pakistan.
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