Tehran- IRAF- Khajeh Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, on Monday, February 10, made controversial remarks, and criticized Islamabad’s previous policies regarding the wars in Afghanistan. He emphasized that Pakistan’s involvement in these wars had been a “Strategic Mistake”.
He stated that after the September 11 attacks, Pakistan was drawn into a a frontline conflict that was “essentially a proxy conflict,” effectively fighting on behalf of others.
Referring to the roles of former Pakistani leaders General Zia-ul-Haq and Parvez Musharraf, Asif added that their decisions dragged the country into a war with widespread security, economic, and social consequences for Pakistan.
During the two decades of foreign military presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan served as one of the main transit routes for coalition troops and equipment, with Karachi Port and the country’s land and air routes playing a key role in supporting operations.
Despite this cooperation, the U.S. at various times accused Islamabad of supporting certain insurgent networks, allegations Pakistani officials have consistently denied. On one occasion, former U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen referred to the Haqqani network as “Pakistan’s intelligence arm.”
Asif’s Past Admissions on Supporting Terrorist Groups
These recent remarks come months after Khajeh Asif, in a television interview, admitted that Islamabad had continuously supported terrorist groups active in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.
He also acknowledged that Pakistan’s alignment with the U.S. in the war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan had been “a major historical mistake.”
In the same interview, Asif criticized U.S. double standards, noting that Washington sometimes places individuals on terrorist lists only to later remove them without clear explanation.
He cited the example of Serajuddin Haqqani, stating: “A reward had been placed on his capture, yet today he lives freely.”
Expressing regret, Asif emphasized that over two decades, Pakistan had carried out the “dirty work of supporting terrorism” under the orders of the U.S. and the West.
New Details on Islamabad Suicide Attack
In another part of the parliamentary session, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, provided details about the recent suicide attack in Islamabad. He stated that the attacker was from Peshawar and, according to him, had received training in Afghanistan.
Chaudhry further claimed that this training had been conducted with India’s support.
According to him, the attacker opened fire on security forces before entering an Imam Bargha ( Shia Prayer Hall), and detonating himself inside the mosque.
Official figures report that the attack killed 31 people and injured approximately 169 others.
Pakistani authorities identified the attacker as Yasir Khan and announced the arrest of four others accused of collaborating with him.
