Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that Pakistan’s stance was recognized and upheld during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where India was unable to assert its position.
The minister stressed that Pakistan desires peace, but sustainable peace requires the resolution of longstanding disputes.
Speaking to a private news channel, he said, “If internal issues are resolved, Pakistan has immense potential for prosperity.”
Referring to water disputes, he said international institutions have reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be suspended unilaterally, rejecting India’s recent rhetoric on the matter.
He warned that while India continues its aggressive posture, it is facing growing international isolation.
“Whether India accepts it or not, the world is acknowledging Pakistan’s principled stance,” he added.
Answering a question, he said that 6 to 7 million undocumented individuals, mostly Afghans, currently reside in Pakistan.
He further said that majority Afghans are running unauthorized businesses, extracting sand from canals, and encroaching on irrigation land across the country.
These dumpers, owned by Afghans, often evade taxes and may be operating with help from corrupt officials, he added.
“They live in makeshift shelters, occupy canal banks, and even use these areas for unhygienic purposes.”
He suggested that their return to Afghanistan could help create employment opportunities for locals.