Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, has said the country must increase its defence budget due to the current regional security situation. He stressed that Pakistan is already facing war-like conditions and must strengthen its defence capabilities.
Khawaja Asif said tensions in the region remain high. However, international efforts are underway to prevent a full-scale conflict between the United States and Iran.
He noted that several European countries are reluctant to openly support the United States and Israel in the ongoing tensions. According to him, the conflict does not have widespread international support.
The defence minister also warned about the global economic impact if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked. He said nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through this vital route. Any disruption would create a major shortage and affect economies around the world.
Earlier, Khawaja Asif said India had already experienced Pakistan’s response during past military tensions. He claimed Pakistan successfully countered a much larger adversary. According to him, India often tries to take advantage of situations that could harm Pakistan.
He also raised concerns about security challenges along the western border. The minister said attacks continue to originate from Afghanistan. He vowed that Pakistan would continue operations against militant groups, including those he referred to as “Fitna-al-Khawarij”.
Khawaja Asif added that Pakistan had repeatedly attempted dialogue with Afghanistan to resolve the issue. However, he said the current attitude of the Afghan government and some elements within the country is unacceptable.
He further claimed that militant groups operating against Pakistan receive support from across the border. According to him, these groups would have been eliminated long ago if such support did not exist.
The defence minister emphasized that Pakistan will continue its operations until the threat of terrorism is completely eliminated.
