A fresh political controversy has erupted in Pakistan after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made striking remarks in Parliament regarding the country’s ongoing security situation and military engagements.
Speaking during a heated session in the National Assembly, Asif stated that wars in Pakistan have historically been fought for political interests rather than purely for national defense. His comments came in the backdrop of a recent terrorist attack in Islamabad and rising tensions between the government and opposition.
Asif’s statement has drawn significant attention, particularly in relation to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, both of whom have recently taken strong positions on regional security matters involving Afghanistan and India.
During the debate, opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai claimed that the Pakistani army’s influence was limited to just four districts. Asif strongly objected to this assertion, calling it irresponsible and damaging to a national institution. However, he acknowledged that Pakistan is currently facing a serious security conflict.
Addressing the House, Asif said that political power struggles over decades have led to wars lacking fundamental principles. He criticized what he described as selective outrage and stressed that violence and terrorism affect all provinces equally. While rejecting allegations of provincial discrimination, he firmly opposed Achakzai’s remarks.
In response to concerns about representation within the armed forces, Asif cited figures reportedly based on the 2023 census. According to the data, provincial representation in the army stands at approximately 51.1 percent from Punjab, 20.52 percent from Sindh, 16.28 percent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6.04 percent from Balochistan, 2.54 percent from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan combined, and 3.52 percent from minority communities.
While reading out the statistics, Asif initially misstated Punjab’s share as 91.1 percent before correcting it, which further fueled debate in the House.
The Defence Minister emphasized that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism is nationwide and not confined to any particular region. He paid tribute to security personnel who have lost their lives combating extremist threats, describing the country as being caught in the middle of a prolonged and violent conflict.
He concluded by stating that such acts of violence cannot be justified under religious or moral grounds, and urged unity during a challenging period for the country.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
