Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has openly expressed his thoughts on Pakistan’s involvement in the Afghan war, admitting that it has brought unfortunate consequences to the country.
During an interview, he admitted his rocky relationship with the establishment in the past. The Defense Minister revealed that the decision to topple Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was finalized citing private conversations where General Bajwa claimed that there was a decades-long rift between Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.
Despite regretting General Bajwa’s extension, Asif admitted his support due to party consensus, even though he was initially against it. As for his role, the PML-N leader took responsibility for supporting General Bajwa’s extension despite not agreeing with the decision.
He expressed readiness for any potential confrontation and invited General Bajwa to hold a press conference if he disagreed with Asif’s stand. In addition, Asif exposed the party’s internal dynamics and noted Mohsin Naqvi’s outstanding performance in Punjab and his subsequent appointment. He also shared his surprise at learning of his electoral defeat in 2018 and highlighted the unpredictability of political outcomes.
