Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing a ceremony in Lahore, stressed the importance of negotiations among political, judicial, and institutional stakeholders to resolve the country's pressing challenges.
However, he cautioned against hasty decisions, urging prudence and sincerity in dialogue. "We politicians should take care of our honour and dignity. They didn't even let me get close to the negotiations," he stated, questioning PTI leaders about which relationship their party founder remained loyal to. "That person uses people, don't let yourself be used."
Khawaja Asif noted that political negotiations cannot succeed without the involvement of all power centres, including the judiciary, establishment, and media. “This is not in the hands of politicians alone. The powers of this country should sit together and find a solution to the problem,” he stressed.
While affirming his support for dialogue, Asif criticised the shifting stances of certain political factions, particularly their recent agreement to hold talks. “What changed in 15 days that they suddenly agreed to negotiations?” he questioned, hinting at potential external influences or political motives behind the move.
Asif took aim at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership, alleging their actions have destabilised the economy and strained international relations. He accused the PTI founder of writing to global leaders to discourage financial support for Pakistan, branding him a "servant" of foreign powers.
Referring to historical events, Asif said Pakistan has long suffered due to policies that favoured external interests, such as the Afghan war. He accused previous regimes of compromising national sovereignty for personal gains, stating, “Two soldiers accepted America’s slavery, and we are still paying the price for it.”
Khawaja Asif urged introspection among politicians and institutions, pointing out that all sides have relied on external crutches at some point. He called on the judiciary to acknowledge past mistakes. "Those who delivered the Bhutto decision, their heirs should apologise,” he demanded.
While reiterating the importance of negotiations, Asif warned against their misuse. “Negotiations should be held cautiously, but we must be careful not to go astray,” he said, expressing concerns about insincere motives and external influences.
He also highlighted the historical cooperation between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), recalling the Charter of Democracy signed by Benazir Bhutto. He acknowledged past grievances but stressed the need for unity to address the nation’s challenges.
