Asif says ready to step down if it helps

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that if the country's security situation could improve by his resignation, he has no objection to stepping down.

"I am held responsible for the Jaffar Express incident. If things can improve by my resignation, I have no objection to resigning," Asif said in response to a comment of a journalist outside the Parliament House.

On March 11, terrorists hijacked the Peshawar-bound train in Bolan district of Balochistan. The security forces later rescued all the hostages except the 21 passengers who had been killed by terrorists prior to the military operation. The opposition had later lambasted Asif for the security lapse.