‘I think history is coming. Pakistan’s leadership and the hybrid system … deliver,’ says Defense Minister
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: APP/ File
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday that Pakistan played a very “important role” in ending the war between the US and Israel.
In an interview on the program ‘Naya Pakistan’ on a private media, he said that Egypt, Turkiye and Pakistan were involved in the efforts to stop the war and prevent further destruction in the region.
“It is a matter of honor for us for the leadership of Pakistan to play an important and decisive role in ending a conflict in which our brotherly Muslim community is involved.”
He credited Pakistan’s greater role in conflict mediation for its “improved image and value” internationally and among Muslim countries after last year’s military conflict with India.
The defense minister also pointed to Pakistan’s increased diplomacy in the aftermath of the conflict, saying the country was at a “unique phase” in its history where strong trust and confidence was present.
“Another side of this coin is our relationship with the US and the direction they have taken,” Asif said, adding that Pakistan had never before achieved the kind of position it has now in its diplomacy with the US.
The minister further said that Pakistan was in an active state of war with Afghanistan, with “tepid tension” present with India as well.
“I think history is in the making. Pakistan’s leadership, and the hybrid system … is delivering. Not only within Pakistan … but the way our prestige has improved internationally, I think both Pindi and Islamabad have realized that Pakistan’s respect is anchored in a common leadership front.”
Asif said Pakistan was capable of playing a role, adding that it was an opportunity for history for the government to mark its position for future generations to remember.
“We have to build on these opportunities that nature provides. I think it is not an option to go away,” he said, adding that there were not many major risk factors for Pakistan in the situation.
“I think the benefits are enormous,” he added.
Asked about the mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia that might kick in if the Gulf states responded to Iran, the defense minister said: “We could be subject to the situation, you’re absolutely right. That’s why the role of diplomacy is all the more important, so we don’t let that situation arise and avoid it.”
Asked about reports that Pakistan is hosting talks between the US and Iran, Asif said it was better for him not to comment on the situation so that it could materialize on its own.
On recent disparaging remarks by the Indian leadership about Pakistan’s role, the minister said: “I think they are ripping off their mouths…it is their failure, there is no doubt about this. Jaishankar and his father were diplomats…diplomacy is his family profession and he mocks us as a ‘broker’? he is a ‘broker’ by heritage and he mocks us.”
He also questioned whether India had not attempted a similar role in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“I believe that India has been defeated both militarily and diplomatically … the face of the butcher of Gujarat has come to the fore.”
Regarding the progress of the operation against Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan had succeeded in creating pressure but could not predict the long-term situation. “The offense we started is not finished, there was a pause due to Eid and the world’s attention is currently on a larger conflict. We will not give them any breathing space; there is no doubt about that. We need to finish this operation for maximum results.”
The minister expressed hope that China’s influence on and in Afghanistan would be able to definitively resolve the crisis.
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In a potentially game-changing diplomatic signal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently publicly offered Pakistan as a venue for US-Iran peace talks, an offer that received an extraordinary boost when President Donald Trump retweeted it on his Truth Social platform, a move widely seen in Islamabad as Washington’s tacit approval of Pakistan’s new role as a mediator.
Trump’s unprecedented devolution has given new momentum to Pakistan’s mediation bid, suggesting that the idea of Islamabad as a neutral venue for high-stakes talks is gaining traction at the highest levels in Washington.
Pakistan’s cautious public stance came as it quietly emerged as a key player seeking an end to the escalating US-Iran conflict. According to US media and officials familiar with the development, Islamabad is being positioned as a potential venue for talks between Tehran and Washington.
Meanwhile, the country’s military leadership also engaged Washington. A report in Financial Times said the Defense Chief and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a telephone conversation with President Trump to discuss the developing situation.
Diplomatic sources said the contacts reflected Pakistan’s attempt to leverage its unique ties with both Tehran and Washington to create space for dialogue.
At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conducted a hectic diplomatic exercise, speaking separately with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. In both talks, Dar emphasized dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace and stability, with all sides agreeing to remain in close contact.
These parallel engagements, which also involve Turkiye and Egypt, point to a coordinated but nascent mediation effort largely centered on backchannel messaging rather than a formal negotiation process.
