ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has declared his firm opposition to any negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing the party’s internal contradictions and questioning its commitment to the state.
Speaking on ARY News’ program Aabit Hai, Asif stated that sincerity was a prerequisite for dialogue, a quality he finds absent in the PTI. “For some time now, PTI has been showing different colors,” he said, noting that some members advocate for talks while others push for confrontation. He centered his criticism on the imprisoned PTI founder, Imran Khan, asserting he has “no agenda except his own” and is unwilling to provide any guarantees.
Asif set a hardline stance, vowing, “If my party negotiates with PTI, I will raise my voice against it.” He expressed skepticism about PTI’s ability to engage productively, promising to question fellow politician Mahmood Achakzai about his expressed confidence in Khan.
The Defense Minister listed several grievances as insurmountable barriers to dialogue. He accused PTI of threatening violence against the federation for two years and condemned its leadership for failing to openly condemn the May 9 riots or visit the families of soldiers martyred in terrorist attacks. “If PTI people do not stand by the blood of the martyrs, should I negotiate with them?” he asked.
Asif also linked his domestic criticism to national security, alleging the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s attitude is “promoting terrorism” by not standing with the state. He extended this to foreign policy, claiming the Afghan government in Kabul is behind terrorism by refusing to guarantee its soil will not be used for attacks against Pakistan.
Meanwhile an internal disagreement has surfaced within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with senior leader and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja publicly disavowing a controversial statement made by the party’s Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
The rift emerged after Barrister Gohar stated that the time had come for “begging” to facilitate meetings with the incarcerated party founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He further suggested that “others and his own people” were involved in creating obstacles for these meetings.
