Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused former military officers and former Prime Minister Imran Khan to orchestrate the resettlement of the Taliban in Pakistan, a measure that said that the country’s security situation had worsened.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Asif alleged that the former chief general of the Army (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former general chief of ISI (retired) Faiz Hameed and Imran Khan decided collectively to bring the Taliban fighters back to the country.
He said the decision had led to a resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and other parts of the country.
“This was a joint decision … The three played a role in allowing the militants to return,” said Asif, added that his position on the matter was registered in the National Assembly.
He criticized the KP government led by PTI for its inaction against terrorism, saying that it was prioritizing the political battles for the safety of its people.
“The KP government is busy fighting Imran Khan’s political war instead of addressing terrorism. They must share responsibility for worsening the situation,” he added.
The minister also dismissed the calls from the opposition to political reconciliation, saying that repeated attacks had closed the door to dialogue.
“How can there be a reconciliation when they have attacked the State four times and are threatening another attack after EID?” Asif said. “The resistance policy is the only option.”
He linked the rise in the militant activity with the leftovers of American weapons in Afghanistan after the American withdrawal in 2021, qualifying him as an important taxpayer to Pakistan’s security challenges.
Asif defended Pakistan’s decision to deliver a terrorist wanted to the United States, saying that the country remained in the front line in the fight against terrorism.
