Pakistan united against terrorism: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th May, 2026) Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Wednesday said Pakistan is fully united in the fight against terrorism, stressing that the military, Federal government, and provincial authorities are aligned on countering militancy.

Responding to a point of order in the National Assembly, he said that until two to three months ago, there had been limited meaningful cooperation from the KP government with the federation, but added that the situation has now improved due to growing realisation.

He stressed that the fight against terrorism is a national struggle for Pakistan’s survival.

The minister emphasised that Pakistan’s armed forces — including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and paramilitary units such as the Frontier Corps — represent a unified national identity and have made immense sacrifices for the country.

He urged that this national character should be respected and not used for political gain, adding that Parliament should function as a forum for national cohesion.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif reiterated that the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s armed forces are national in nature and must not be linked to any province.

He said military personnel, regardless of whether they come from Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, or any other part of the country, are laying down their lives for

Pakistan as a whole, and their martyrdom represents the entire nation.

He stressed unity across all provinces, and Gilgit-Baltistan to eliminate terrorism.

Regarding Afghanistan, he said Pakistan has repeatedly engaged in dialogue with Afghanistan to address cross-border militancy, noting that multiple rounds of talks were held in different locations, including meetings in Qatar and Türkiye, with Saudi Arabia also playing a facilitative role.

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He recalled that these discussions continued even during periods of heightened terrorist activities, as Pakistan consistently pursued diplomatic engagement in search of a workable solution.

However, he said no meaningful breakthrough was achieved, as the Afghan side had not provided written assurances that its territory would not be used for attacks against Pakistan.

He also said that militant networks operating from Afghanistan are being used against Pakistan, describing it as a broader regional security challenge.

He alleged that groups operating against Pakistan are acting as proxies for India.

He added that the objective is to eliminate terrorism through dialogue and arrangements, but if that is not possible, Pakistan would respond accordingly, as it has done in the past.

He said that the government stands with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government in addressing the challenge, stressing that security forces are making daily sacrifices in counterterrorism operations.

On the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework and former FATA commitments, he said that pledges regarding the region have yet to be fulfilled, as all provinces had agreed to contribute resources for the development and uplift of the merged districts.

He stressed that the matter requires urgent resolution through constitutional forums, adding that such issues should be placed on the agenda of platforms like the NFC and resolved collectively.

APP/zah-tsw