ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday rebuked the remarks made by the Afghan spokesperson regarding the country’s political and military leadership, terming it “malicious and misleading.”
In a post on social media site X, the minister “categorically” stated that “there exists complete unanimity of views among all Pakistanis, including the country’s political and military leadership, regarding Pakistan’s security policies and its comprehensive approach toward Afghanistan.”
“The people of Pakistan, especially those of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are fully aware of the treacherous and barbaric patronization of Indian-sponsored terrorism by the Afghan Taliban regime and harbor no illusions about its intent or conduct,” he wrote.
Asif’s remarks came after the Afghan Taliban regime’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Khawaja Asif, the country’s defence minister, or the political leadership, does not have any authority in Pakistan’s security policies.
On the malicious and misleading comments made by the Afghan spokesperson, let it be categorically stated that there exists complete unanimity of views among all Pakistanis, including the country’s political and military leadership, regarding Pakistan’s security policies and its…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 1, 2025
Denying the claim, Khawaja Asif said that, in fact, it is the non-representative Afghan Taliban regime that “suffers from deep internal factionalism” and is responsible for the continued oppression of Afghan ethnicities, women, children, and minorities, while stifling fundamental rights of expression, education, and representation.
“Even after four years in power, the regime has failed to fulfill the promises made to the international community, and now attempts to mask its lack of cohesion, stability, and governance capacity through rhetoric and by serving as a proxy for external elements,” he wrote.
“In contrast, Pakistan’s policy to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism and the perverted ideology of Khawarij remains unified, unwavering, and firmly anchored in national interest as well as in the pursuit of regional peace and stability,” he stated.
