Pakistan’s Defense Minister Blames US Policies for Terrorism; Seeks Russia, China Involvement in Pahalgam Attack Probe

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has attributed the country’s ongoing challenges in the war against terrorism to Islamabad’s previous support for U.S.-led wars. He asserted that due to the policies of Washington and other Western powers in the region, Pakistan today remains a victim of terrorism.

In addition, according to media reports, Pakistan has called for the involvement of Russia and China in the investigation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, emphasizing the need for a transparent and internationally credible inquiry.

Speaking on ARY News’ program “Khabar,” Khawaja Asif described the Taliban as “Indian agents” and accused New Delhi of orchestrating terror activities on Pakistani soil.
Asif stated that Pakistan possesses credible intelligence linking India to terror attacks carried out through the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“India is providing IEDs and other weaponry to TTP operatives, aiming to target key Pakistani cities,” he warned.

The Defense Minister further recalled that under the Ashraf Ghani administration in Afghanistan, India operated multiple consulates, allegedly used to fund and arm terrorist groups against Pakistan.

Drawing a parallel to domestic Indian politics, Asif said:

“The current Indian government under Modi operates with the same extremist mindset that led to the Gujarat violence.“

He strongly criticized India’s role in fueling terrorism, particularly in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, and reiterated that Pakistan remains vigilant against such threats.