Khawaja Asif Accuses Imran Khan of Settling Taliban in Pakistan; Journalist Imran Riaz Hits Back
Defense Minister blames PTI for negotiating with militants; Imran Riaz calls accusation false and politically motivated
ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of bringing thousands of Taliban fighters into Pakistan and settling them during his tenure. The statement sparked a strong response from journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz, who called the allegation baseless and urged the minister to “act his age and stop lying.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khawaja Asif claimed that Imran Khan had facilitated the resettlement of Taliban militants in Pakistan, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continues to advocate dialogue with terrorists. He added that despite years of negotiations and visits between Pakistani and Afghan delegations, bloodshed had not ceased.
ھزاروں طالبان کو عمران خان نے پاکستان لا کے بسایا۔ آج بھی PTI دھشت گردوں سے مذاکرات کی بات کر رہے ھیں۔ سالوں سے ھماری فوج اور عوام کا خون بہایا جارہا ھے۔ افغان حکومت کے ساتھ سالوں پہ محیط مذاکرات اور وفود کا کابل آنے جانے کے باوجود پاکستان میں خونریزی بند نہیں ھوئ۔ روزانہ فوجی… https://t.co/0s07UzGtEd
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 9, 2025
“Our soldiers’ funerals continue every day,” Asif wrote. “We have hosted six million Afghan refugees for six decades and are now paying the price in blood. The time has come for Afghan guests to return home. How can guests kill their hosts and shelter their murderers?”
Responding sharply, Imran Riaz said, “Khawaja Sahib, please act your age and stop lying. Murad Saeed kept warning everyone, but you and your benefactor General Bajwa opened the doors to terrorists after your regime-change operation.”
خواجہ صاحب اپنی عمر کا لحاظ کیجیے اور جھوٹ مت بولیے مراد سعید چلاتا رہا شور مچاتا رہا آپ سبکو جگانے کوشش کرتا رہا اور آپ اپنے محسن جنرل باجوہ کے ساتھ مل کر رجیم چینج آپریشن کے بعد دہشت گردوں کو انٹری دیتے رہے۔ https://t.co/cJ0m6bkMk9
— Imran Riaz Khan (@ImranRiazKhan) October 9, 2025
The exchange has intensified political tensions as Pakistan continues to grapple with rising militancy and renewed scrutiny over its Afghan policy.
