Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday claimed that the recent spike in violence in Balochistan is being driven by criminal networks whose “fake covers” of nationalism, politics and human rights movements have collapsed following a crackdown on oil smuggling. “These groups no longer represent any political or ideological movement. What has emerged is a movement […]
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
Khawaja Asif calls PTI’s protests dangerous, DG ISPR’s words justified
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for reacting to DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s press conference. The DG had called former premier Imran Khan a security risk, narcissist, and mentally ill, without naming him directly. Asif said the military spokesman had every right to make such statements. Speaking in […]
Defence minister targets judges, hails parliament’s historic power shift
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the judiciary in a fiery National Assembly speech. He accused certain judges of political interference and overreach. He urged lawmakers to protect parliamentary supremacy after recent constitutional amendments. Asif said the judiciary had influenced politics for years, citing Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification and the Panama Papers case. He claimed the same […]
Asif Warns of Action Amid Rising Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions could escalate after deadly attacks in Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least 12 people were killed and 36 injured in a suicide blast in the capital. The explosion happened as major international events were taking place in Islamabad. Meanwhile, security forces launched a clearance operation […]
Pakistan in ‘State of War’, Says Defense Minister After Islamabad Blast
Pakistan is in a state of war, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday after a deadly suicide blast in Islamabad. At least 12 people were killed and 36 were injured in the attack near district courts. The bombing took place while major international events were happening in the capital, including the Margalla Dialogue and […]
Asif rejects ‘false claims’ over PIA’s safety and revival
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly rejected what he called “baseless propaganda” against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), stressing that the airline fully complies with both national and international aviation standards. He said that flight safety remains a top priority and that only qualified authorities like the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and global regulators have […]
Khawaja Asif: “We hope for peace, not war” with Afghanistan
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed optimism about reaching a peace agreement with Afghanistan, following a meeting held in Turkiye just two hours earlier. Speaking to the media in Sialkot on Saturday, he said that the outcome of the talks would likely be revealed by tomorrow. Asif noted that the first round of negotiations took […]
Pakistan, Afghan Taliban hold second round of key talks in Turkey
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are holding a second round of crucial talks in Turkey today. Both sides aim to establish a strong and verifiable monitoring system to combat terrorism. The meeting follows last week’s Doha talks, which resulted in a temporary ceasefire. Officials from both countries confirmed that today’s discussions will focus […]
Ceasefire in place, but only if Taliban holds the line—says Defence Minister
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan’s ceasefire deal with Afghanistan will remain active unless it is violated. He confirmed that the agreement has no time limit. Asif made the statement while explaining the key points of the truce signed in Doha. The ceasefire was brokered by Qatar and Turkiye after days of deadly border clashes. […]
Border peace in sight: Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on anti-terror plan
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to work together to fight terrorism along their shared border. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the agreement in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said both countries understand that terrorism has hurt the region badly. The agreement comes after rising tensions, including recent border clashes. Mediation from Qatar and Turkiye […]