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Results for “Defence Minister Khawaja Asif” (26)

Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

'Same enemy on both borders': Minister sees no difference between Kabul, New Delhi

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday warned Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government against continued support for militants, saying Pakistan would respond to Kabul the same way it had responded to India. “There is no difference between Delhi and Kabul,” Asif said while addressing the National Assembly in Islamabad, adding that the “same enemy” was currently sitting on both Pakistan’s eastern and western borders. Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

No military operation underway in Tirah Valley, displacement seasonal: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday dismissed reports of a military operation in Tirah Valley, saying that no such operation has taken place in the area for several years and that recent displacement is a routine, seasonal process linked to harsh winter conditions. “There has been no operation in Tirah Valley for many years. These are all assumptions,” said Asif while addressing a press conference in Islamabad flanked by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan. Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Ruling alliance calls for empowered LG system after deadly Gul Plaza inferno

The deadly inferno at Karachi's Gul Plaza, which claimed at least 27 lives with 81 people are reportedly missing, echoed in the National Assembly as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan lawmakers called for an empowered local government system to prevent such incidents. Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, the defence minister said that the lack of fire-extinguishing systems demands the need for every province to have a mechanism where people can address issues at the local level. Farooq Sattar urges declaring incident 'national tragedy'; Shehla Raza says… Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

PIA privatisation: Asif blames bureaucracy for public sector's decline, seeks accountability

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who also heads the country's aviation sector, has held bureaucracy responsible for the decline of the public sector while lamenting that politicians are often blamed for it. "Those responsible for the ruin of institutions will be held accountable," Asif said on Wednesday. Speaking about the national airline's privatisation, Defence Minister Asif blamed former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan's statement claiming fake credentials of pilots which had resulted in wide-ranging restrictions and adverse repercussions for the national airline during the PTI-led government in 2020. Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Govt hails Faiz Hamid's sentence as 'historic, landmark' for accountability system

Political leaders belonging to ruling alliance have reacted to the conviction of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the nation will face the consequences of decisions made under former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and the ex-spymaster. Senator Faisal Vawda said that the conviction marks "just the beginning," adding that the May 9-related cases are expected to move forward next. Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar described the verdict as a "historic" and “landmark” decision, saying that the decision strengthens the rule… Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

'Free to respond with full force': Ministers defend ISPR DG's 'guarded' language

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday defended the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general's "guarded" language, saying the military's spokesperson was free to "respond with full force" to criticism aimed at the armed forces. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also backed the ISPR. "Our armed forces are sacrificing in the fight against terrorism. The ISPR DG has been soft — if it were me, I would have used even stronger words," he said. Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Pak-Afghan relations can never normalise unless Kabul reins in TTP: Defence Minister

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan can never be returned to normal unless Kabul ends its support for the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Talking to media, the defence minister said those sheltering the TTP militants in Afghanistan must stop the terrorists' infiltration into Pakistan. He said that the infiltration from Afghanistan is still going on in some form, adding that as long as the same situation continues, the agreement cannot take effect,” Asif said. Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Foreign Office denies role in Shama Junejo's presence in UN delegation

Amid speculation on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the woman seated behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) did not have the approval of Pakistan's authorities. The clarification comes amid a controversy over the presence of columnist Shama Junejo at the UNSC session on 24 September 2025. Critics accused the government of including her in the official delegation despite her alleged support for Israel. In response to the online outrage, defence czar Asif explained that he delivered the… Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Khawaja Asif says Pakistan not selling nukes under Saudi defence pact

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan is not selling nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia under the recently signed landmark defence agreement, stressing that “we are responsible people”. During an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan for Zeteo, the defence czar was questioned about the recently signed defence pact. Mehdi asked, “How much of it is a reaction to the Israeli bombing of Qatar?” In response, Asif clarified that the agreement was not a reaction to the Qatar attack. He emphasised that discussions on the pact had been ongoing for… Read More…

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Hafsa Mustafa Posted in Politics

Afghan nationals doing illegal businesses in Pakistan: Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Afghan nationals are doing illegal businesses in Pakistan and land encroachment. Talking to media, Khawaja Asif that at the canal where he frequently swims, dump trucks (dumpers) are parked along the banks, owned by Afghans who live in makeshift shelters but have illegally occupied irrigation land. He alleged, “These Afghan dumper owners probably bribe the irrigation department.” He said, “Dumpers enter Pakistan in three parts without paying any taxes. Afghans extract sand from canals, run illegal trades, and even use canals as washrooms.” He… Read More…

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