Asif blames ex-COAS Bajwa for Taliban resurgence

ISLAMABAD:

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday questioned the rationale behind the decision of then prime minister Imran Khan, army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI chief Faiz Hameed during the PTI tenure to settle the Taliban elements in Pakistan.

Talking to the media persons at the Parliament House, the defence minister said that terrorism was a global issue that must be tackled collectively, and stressed that Pakistan was the front line state in the war against terrorism. He said that handing over of terrorist Sharifullah to the US was not a big deal.

“Why [former army chief] Gen Bajwa resettled terrorists in Pakistan, he should be asked. Then ISI DG Faiz Hamid is already under arrest,” Asif said. “It was a joint decision of the three – Qamar Javed Bajwa Bajwa, Imran Khan and Faiz Hameed. My position is clear in the proceedings of the National Assembly.”

The defence minister stated that Pakistan had not started the war against terrorism. “[The United States of] America fought wars in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan in the name of terrorism, We are the biggest victims of terrorism. But now, Pakistan is fighting on the frontline in this war against terrorism,” he said.

Referring to a quick US drawdown from Afghanistan in August 2021, the minister said that America left high-tech weapons behind in Afghanistan, adding that Terrorism increased in Pakistan because of those American weapons. “America is saying that it is taking back the weapons, so it is a good thing.”

The minister held the K-P government responsible for the rising terrorism incidents. The K-P government was focused on fighting Imran’s political battle instead of countering terrorists, Asif charged.

Khawaja Asif accused the provincial government of not taking any measures to curb the menace of terrorism in K-P. He demanded an inquiry into the provincial government’s failure in controlling terrorism in the province. “Parachinar [situation] is in front of everyone, they are not under our control.”

He also fired a broadside against the opposition and warned that there would not be any reconciliation rather ruling coalition would pursue the politics of resistance. “Opponents have talked about reconciliation but dialogue is only possible when the opposing side is not hostile,” he said.

“They have attacked [Islamabad] three or four times and now they are against talking about launching another attack after Eidul Fits. Now instead of reconciliation, there will be a politics of resistance,” the minister stated.

Commenting on reports of Imran Khan’s letter to US President Donald Trump, Asif remarked that Pakistan’s internal letter-writing politics had now gone international. He said that this letter, like previous ones, would also meet the same fate. “Now only a magician can advise Imran Khan.”