Khawaja Asif says India admitted defeat against Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan’s recent conflict with India was the first war between the two countries in which there was no ambiguity over the outcome, claiming that India and its military had acknowledged the result.

Addressing a ceremony in Sialkot, the defence minister described the development as a major achievement and an honour for Pakistan. He said the country had defeated an enemy five times larger than itself, adding that previous wars had often left room for different interpretations, but the latest conflict was different.

“India itself acknowledged it, and its military also admitted it. This is a great honour for Pakistan,” he said.

Reflecting on his political career, Khawaja Asif said he entered politics in 1991 and had spent the past 36 years serving the country. He described Sialkot as his identity and said improving the lives of its residents remained his responsibility.

The minister admitted that he sometimes felt exhausted after spending decades in politics. However, he said a recent meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in parliament had given him renewed energy and motivation.

Recalling the challenges he faced during his political career, Khawaja Asif said he had witnessed several political ups and downs and had been imprisoned four times.

He said he was detained at Attock Fort during former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s government. He also spent six months in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody in 2020 during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

The defence minister claimed that even after keeping him in detention for six months, NAB officials could not clearly explain the charges against him.

He said Pakistan had now secured a position of considerable importance at the diplomatic level, describing the country’s international standing as a matter of pride.

Criticising the use of accountability institutions for political purposes, Khawaja Asif said governments sometimes arrest political opponents first and decide later what charges should be brought against them.

He maintained that political victimisation had never served the national interest and warned that using imprisonment and accountability proceedings to settle political scores could damage the country.

Reiterating his remarks about the conflict with India, the defence minister said Pakistan’s military success against a much larger adversary had strengthened the country’s standing and demonstrated its capabilities.