RASC News Agency: Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has attributed the rise in militant activity to U.S. weaponry left behind in Afghanistan following the American withdrawal in 2021, identifying it as the primary driver of Pakistan’s escalating security crisis. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he endorsed the United States’ decision to reclaim its advanced weaponry from Afghanistan, describing the move as a crucial step toward mitigating terrorist threats. “The surge in terrorist attacks stems directly from the proliferation of American arms,” Asif asserted. He went on to accuse former senior military officials and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan of orchestrating the Taliban’s reintegration into Pakistan an act he claims has significantly destabilized the country’s security landscape.
Addressing journalists in Islamabad, Asif alleged that retired generals Qamar Javed Bajwa and Faiz Hameed, in coordination with Imran Khan, had jointly facilitated the return of Taliban militants to Pakistan. “This was a collective decision. All three played a pivotal role in bringing Taliban insurgents back,” he declared. According to Asif, this decision has directly contributed to the resurgence of terrorism across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions of Pakistan. He also launched a scathing critique of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, accusing it of prioritizing political infighting over counterterrorism efforts.
“The provincial administration is entangled in a political battle with Imran Khan rather than confronting the mounting threat of terrorism. They must accept accountability for the country’s deteriorating security situation,” he asserted. In response to opposition calls for political reconciliation, Asif categorically ruled out the possibility of negotiations, citing the Taliban’s repeated assaults on the government. “How can reconciliation be an option when they have attacked the state four times and continue to threaten further violence?” he questioned.
