Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Urges Increased Defence Budget Amid Regional Tensions

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that with ongoing conflicts in the region, Pakistan is also facing security challenges, and the **defence budget should be increased** accordingly.

Speaking to Samaa TV, he noted that while the United States is trying to prevent war with Iran, most European countries are **reluctant to support the US and Israel**, emphasizing that this is **not a popular war**.

Khawaja Asif highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz the Defence Minister said that **attacks continue from across the border**, and groups like Fitna al-Khawarij **will not be allowed to operate freely**. He criticized Afghanistan’s government and people, saying their approach has **never been acceptable**, and Pakistan has repeatedly tried **dialogue to resolve issues**, but threats persist.

Khawaja Asif stressed that **Afghanistan has historically supported terrorist groups**, and without such backing, these groups would have been eliminated long ago. He concluded that **operations must continue until the threat is fully neutralized**. 🛡️🌐