Islamabad : Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the government will not initiate negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) until a clear message is received from PTI founder Imran Khan.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Khawaja Asif emphasized that PTI operates under the singular authority of its founder, and all party leaders take directions from him. “Until there is a direct and unambiguous message from the PTI founder, negotiations cannot proceed,” he asserted.
Commenting on PTI’s call for civil disobedience, the Defence Minister dismissed it as a “non-starter.” He remarked that, like breakfast cereals “Dalia” and “Cornflakes,” PTI’s founder is also a “military product,” adding that “sometimes a product forgets its place.”
Discussing Pakistan’s ties with the United States, Khawaja Asif acknowledged the depth of the relationship but highlighted occasional ups and downs. “We understand better than anyone what is in our national interest and what is not. It is not up to the U.S. or any other country to decide for us,” he said. He further noted that American support for international financial institutions like the IMF is crucial. “If the U.S. were unhappy with us, would we have secured the IMF program?”
On Afghanistan, the Defence Minister stated that Pakistan’s engagement with Afghanistan’s current rulers dates back to the 1970s. “Our only disagreement with Afghanistan is that its soil must not be used by the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan),” he emphasized. Asif mentioned that Pakistan is persistently addressing this concern with Afghan authorities and that regional allies are also facilitating the restoration of relations. “I believe things will start returning to normal very soon,” he concluded.
