Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, issued a sharp critique of the country’s historical relationship with the United States, stating that Washington used Pakistan for its own strategic interests and then abandoned it. Speaking in Parliament, Asif used strong metaphors to describe the treatment of the nation, suggesting that the partnership was deeply one-sided.
The Minister stated that re-engaging with the United States after 2001 was a significant error that resulted in long-term damage to Pakistan. He argued that the support for the US in the Afghanistan conflict was driven by a desire for political legitimacy and superpower backing rather than religious or national necessity, and the country has been suffering the consequences for decades.
Asif also pointed inward, stating that Pakistan has failed to learn from its past mistakes. He noted that following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan, the nation did not adjust its course, leading it to “rent itself out” for another two decades after the September 11 attacks. He attributed the rise of terrorism and extremism to the decisions made by past military dictators, specifically mentioning Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, whom he accused of pushing the country into foreign wars that damaged the economy and society.
Furthermore, the Defense Minister highlighted that none of the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were Afghan, yet Pakistan became embroiled in the ensuing war, a decision he believes severely compromised national security and foreign policy.
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