Opp slams Asif’s ‘warmongering’

PTI says security and prosperity lie in building bridges, not in ‘sabre-rattling’

ISLAMABAD:

Senior opposition figures in the National Assembly delivered a scathing rebuke on Friday to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement that Pakistan might launch cross-border strikes into Afghanistan to target terrorists.

The opposition labelled it as reckless and potentially destabilising.

They not only condemned Asif’s remarks but also demanded a formal apology, asserting that such provocative rhetoric jeopardises the fragile peace and historic ties between the two countries.

Oppsition Leader Omar Ayub Khan said that Khawaja Asif’s statement risk escalating tensions and could reignite terrorism, undoing the strides made towards regional stability and peace.

“We should focus on dialogue and cooperation with our Afghan brothers to combat terrorism, rather than resorting to unilateral military threats,” Khan stressed.

PTI chairman Barrister Gohar echoed similar sentiments, stressing that security and prosperity lie in building bridges, not in sabre-rattling.

The meeting of the senior leaders of the opposition and members from ex-FATA and PATA took place in the Opposition Lobby in the National Assembly on Friday. The opposition leaders included PTI’s former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), among others.

Qaiser condemned Asif’s statement as not just irresponsible but also dangerous, arguing that military actions across borders would exacerbate rather than resolve the terrorism issue.

“We must work together to secure peace and respect each other’s sovereignty,” he urged, underlining the need for a measured approach to regional security.

He further said that “we must work together to ensure peace and security in the region, respecting each other’s sovereignty and fostering mutual trust.”

The opposition leaders underscored the deep and historic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasising that such incendiary remarks do not reflect the sentiments of the people of Pakistan.

“We share more than just a border with Afghanistan; we share a history, culture, and the bonds of brotherhood,” remarked Achakzai.

MNA Sahibzada Sibghatullah added that “any threat of military action undermines the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that we have worked so hard to build.”

The opposition leaders collectively “demanded an immediate retraction of the statement and a formal apology from Khawaja Asif”. They urged the government to adopt a more diplomatic and measured approach to addressing security concerns.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that terrorism from Afghanistan continues to threaten our borders, and Pakistan has the right to retaliate.