ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leader Imran Khan, stating that no relief will be granted if the party attempts to coerce the government through its proposed long march. Speaking at Parliament House in Islamabad, Asif emphasized that the government would remain steadfast and refuse to succumb to any pressure tactics.
He accused PTI of collaborating with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), asserting that the party has effectively declared war against Pakistan alongside the militant group. Asif dismissed PTI’s strategy of using the long march as a means to blackmail the government as mere wishful thinking, noting that such attempts to ‘attack Islamabad’ have become a recurring pattern every two to three months.
Questioning PTI’s stance on the TTP and its Afghan supporters, Asif challenged the party to produce any statements condemning the TTP or their Afghan Taliban patrons. He highlighted that the Kabul leadership acts as sponsors for the TTP, yet PTI has remained silent on this issue. The defence minister further alleged that terrorists are openly financed and operate freely across several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the provincial government reportedly lacks control.
Asif pointedly asked whether the current chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was aware of the situation, describing the circumstances as a betrayal of the country. He suggested that the emerging evidence of coordination between PTI and militant groups reflects a troubling reality. Referring to a senior PTI leader’s earlier remarks about causing destruction in Islamabad, Asif said these statements reveal the party’s true intentions.
He warned that if PTI continues with its blackmail tactics, Imran Khan should expect no future relief from the government. Asif urged the party to abandon confrontational methods, return to the negotiating table, and focus on governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He called on PTI to cease supporting terrorists and halt their funding, rejecting any notion that the government would be forced to accept demands under duress.
Additionally, Asif mentioned a recent comment by opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai regarding a visit to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Murree. He acknowledged the longstanding relationship between Achakzai and Sharif, describing Achakzai as a second-generation political worker. Asif expressed his intention to encourage Achakzai to contribute positively by promoting national unity and addressing the threat of Afghanistan-backed terrorism.
He concluded by urging all political factions to unite in combating terrorists sponsored from Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to safeguard Pakistan’s integrity.
