Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the region is facing a war-like situation and that Pakistan is effectively engaged in a battle of its own. He emphasized the need to increase the country’s defense budget under current circumstances.
Speaking to the media, he said the United States is attempting to prevent a conflict with Iran, but European countries are reluctant to support America and Israel. “This is not a popular war,” he noted.
Khawaja Asif highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes. He warned that any blockade could trigger a global economic crisis due to supply shortages.
Referring to past conflicts with India, he said Pakistan successfully defended itself against an adversary five times its size and stressed that India often seeks to exploit situations that harm Pakistan.
The minister also addressed security concerns related to Afghanistan, stating that attacks originating from Afghan territory target Pakistan. He said extremist groups will not be tolerated and criticized the Afghan government and public for their historically unreliable stance. Pakistan has repeatedly attempted to resolve issues through dialogue but has found Afghan counterparts largely untrustworthy. He insisted that operations should continue until all threats are neutralized.
Khawaja Asif added that Afghanistan has consistently supported terrorist groups, and without such backing, these groups would have been eliminated long ago. He stressed the need to bring the current situation to a decisive and logical conclusion.
