Khawaja Asif blames Bajwa, Faiz Hameed for settling Taliban in Pakistan
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during an interview with Voice of America (VoA). SCREENGRAB
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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday accused former military officials and ex-premier Imran Khan of orchestrating the resettlement of Taliban in Pakistan — a move he claimed had worsened the country's security situation.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Asif alleged that former Army Chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa, former ISI chief General (retired) Faiz Hameed, and Imran Khan collectively decided to bring Taliban fighters back into the country.
He said the decision had led to a resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and other parts of the country.
"This was a joint decision... all three played a role in allowing militants to return," Asif said, adding that his stance on the matter was on record in the National Assembly.
He criticised the PTI-led K-P government for its inaction against terrorism, saying it was prioritising political battles over the security of its people.
"The K-P government is busy fighting Imran Khan's political war rather than addressing terrorism. They must share responsibility for the worsening situation," he added.
The minister also dismissed opposition calls for political reconciliation, saying repeated attacks had closed the door on dialogue.
"How can there be reconciliation when they have attacked the state four times and are threatening another attack after Eid?" Asif said. "Resistance politics is the only option left."
He linked the rise in militant activity to leftover US weapons in Afghanistan following the American withdrawal in 2021, calling it a major contributor to Pakistan's security challenges.
Asif defended Pakistan's decision to hand over a wanted terrorist to the US, saying the country remained on the front lines in the fight against terrorism.
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