Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the same forces which brought Imran Khan into power are once again active in trying to return him to office, adding that these elements want Pakistan to remain under their control.
In a statement shared on social media, Khawaja Asif said there are individuals in Pakistan who seek power for their own interests by giving shelter to those who malign the country.
Referring to the attacks on military installations on 9 May 2023, he said these incidents were part of the same agenda.
He stated that those who politically nurtured Imran Khan and facilitated his rise to power, and who now provide refuge to people abusing Pakistan from abroad, want this country to remain subservient so that their “protégé” can once again be installed in power. He stressed that the events of 9 May were an attempt to achieve these objectives.
The defence minister also referred to India’s military actions during Imran Khan’s tenure. He said that Indian pilot Abhinandan was released overnight at that time, but when India carried out another attack in May 2025, Pakistan responded decisively in its defence, surprising the world and proving that this was not the same Pakistan that had released the pilot years earlier.
Khawaja Asif said that Parliament had been informed at the time that Pakistan could not afford the risk of war with India. However, he added that by the grace of Allah, the armed forces raised the nation’s head with pride, and the sacrifices of the martyrs made the country eternal.
He warned that the enemy is still waiting for an opportunity to exploit Pakistan’s weaknesses, making constant vigilance essential.
The defence minister also criticised so-called overseas Pakistanis and advocates of negotiations driven by sympathy for the Taliban, saying such elements are enemies of development, economic stability and peace, and are attempting to push Pakistan away from a secure future.
