Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show last night that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa threatened him that he would hold a press conference against him after the minister’s criticism about the previous army chief’s policy of rehabilitating Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants back into the country.
Khawaja Asif pointed out that when the former army chief previously gave a briefing to the parliament,
“A rosy picture was painted that if the Taliban were to return to Pakistan, it would usher in a new era of peace and brotherhood.”
He further said “Its not wrong or blasphemous of me to suggest that they return to the same forum and explain.”
Asif said that he did not insult anyone by asking that Bajwa and Gen (ret.) Faiz Hameed be summoned before the national parliament to give a briefing about their flawed policy. He reiterated, “What Pakistan is currently going through is basically a ‘continuity’ of that infamous briefing that the ex-generals gave us.”
When the anchor asked him whether he received any advice from his party to stay away from this topic, he replied that they did not, and it is a matter of principle for him.
