Khawaja Asif Accuses PTI of Aligning with Terrorists, Says Afghanistan-Backed War Being Waged in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of aligning with terrorists, alleging that the party had given them a share in provincial funds. He claimed that a war was being waged in Pakistan under Afghanistan’s patronage, with its alleged backers based in New Delhi.
Speaking on Hum News, Asif said efforts had been made to engage Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but the provincial government’s statements had become intolerable.
Commenting on October 12 and its historical significance, the defence minister said the only similarity between October 12, 2026, and October 12, 1999, was the date itself. He recalled that a military dictator had violated the Constitution in 1999, dismissed an elected government and remained in power for eight years.
He said it was inappropriate to draw parallels between the two dates, adding that emergency rule had been imposed several times in Pakistan’s 78-year history under constitutional provisions. However, he argued that the current circumstances were different because of what he described as threats posed by elements creating unrest within the country.
Asif said the government had made every possible effort to avoid imposing an emergency. However, he criticised the language used by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and provincial lawmakers, alleging that their statements did not reflect the sentiments of patriotic Pakistanis.
The defence minister further claimed that whenever terrorism had intensified over the past two to three years, the PTI-led provincial government had failed to issue clear statements condemning it. He also accused the provincial leadership of remaining silent over alleged violations of Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty by the Taliban and Afghanistan.
Asif said the actions and statements of political leaders revealed their positions, accusing some of disrespecting those who had sacrificed their lives for the country and of refusing to participate in funeral prayers for security personnel.
Reiterating his allegations, the defence minister said the PTI had become an ally of terrorists and claimed that they had been given a share in both national and provincial financial resources.
The allegations come amid escalating political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration over security policy, counterterrorism efforts and the possibility of imposing emergency rule in the province.
