Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has revealed that he began receiving threats after mentioning religion in a recent speech, saying his phone was “full of threats” and warning that Pakistan remains dangerously divided even on condemning terrorism.
Addressing the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif said he faced threats simply for referring to religion in his speech. He lamented that the country lacks unity even on national tragedies, calling it unfortunate that terrorism is not condemned unanimously.
He added that he would not lie on national issues and stated that if such a situation persists, he would prefer to leave politics.
The minister stressed the need to forget political differences and stand united against terrorism. He said sacrifices made for the country should never be compromised for politics and called for patience and tolerance to be promoted in political discourse.
Khawaja Asif urged politicians to strengthen their bond with the soil of Pakistan and build consensus on the country’s integrity.
Terrorism has no link with Islam
Rejecting extremist narratives, Khawaja Asif said terrorists have nothing to do with Islam. He emphasized that martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national defence must be honoured and turned into heroes for future generations.
He reaffirmed that the sacrifices of martyrs would not go in vain.
India accused of proxy war
Khawaja Asif accused India of waging a proxy war against Pakistan by using Afghan soil. He said India, unable to confront Pakistan directly, was operating “from behind Afghanistan.”
He recalled that India attacked Pakistan twice after independence and claimed that the manner in which India was defeated made another direct attack unthinkable.
The minister said Pakistan became part of the Afghan war twice but never participated with enthusiasm. He noted that Afghanistan was the last country to recognize Pakistan, despite Pakistan having provided refuge to Afghan nationals for decades.
He stressed that Pakistan has never committed aggression against Afghanistan.
Talks with Taliban
Asif revealed that he had personally visited Afghanistan for talks with the Taliban regime. He said the Taliban demanded $10 billion to hand over terrorists.
According to him, Pakistan could have arranged the money, but the Taliban were unwilling to provide guarantees, making the proposal unacceptable.
Collective responsibility of provinces, leaders
The defence minister said all provinces must work together to resolve the country’s problems. He added that every stakeholder has a responsibility to contribute toward solving national and public issues.
He also remarked that no politician in Pakistan has ever apologized for past mistakes, calling self-accountability essential for national progress.
Concluding his address, Khawaja Asif urged all political forces to agree on one point: that Pakistan is facing a proxy war and terrorism must be confronted with unity. He said differences would always exist, but unity against terrorism was non-negotiable.
