Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has called for an increase in Pakistan’s defense budget, citing ongoing regional conflicts and cross-border security threats.
In a recent interview with SAMAA TV, he highlighted Pakistan’s strategic challenges amid the US-Iran war and tensions with neighboring countries.
Khawaja Asif noted that the region is currently embroiled in a war, with Pakistan also facing security challenges. “In the current situation, it is essential that our defense budget be increased to ensure readiness,” he stated.
He highlighted the geopolitical impact of the Middle East crisis, pointing out that around 20% of global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. “Any disruption in this route could affect the global economy,” he warned, stressing that European countries are avoiding support for the US and Israel, as the conflict is not widely popular internationally.
Pakistan’s military strength
The defense minister recalled Pakistan’s historical resilience against larger adversaries, stating that India has repeatedly tried to exploit situations to harm Pakistan, but the country has successfully defended itself.
He further criticized cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, emphasizing that Pakistan will not tolerate threats from militant groups like Fitna al-Kharij. “The Afghan government and people’s current behavior is neither acceptable in the past, present, nor future,” Asif said.
Dialogue and military operations
Khawaja Asif stressed that Pakistan has made multiple attempts to resolve security issues through dialogue with Afghanistan but labeled them as unreliable. “We have met with them twice, yet threats persist. Operations should continue until the danger is fully neutralized,” he added.
He accused Afghanistan of historically supporting terrorist activities, asserting that without Afghan backing, Pakistan’s military would have eliminated these groups earlier. “It is necessary to bring the current situation to a logical conclusion,” the Defense Minister concluded.
