According to Dawn, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif spoke in the National Assembly on Thursday to respond to remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding Asif's absence from a recent gathering in Tehran. Rehman had questioned why the defence minister was not present while a regional meeting was taking place in Iran.
Asif rejected claims that a defence pact was being negotiated in Tehran, explaining that the meeting did not fall under the mandate of the defence ministry and that his attendance was not required.
What happened
According to Dawn, Rehman had criticized Asif in the National Assembly, pointing out that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attended the Tehran talks while the defence minister remained in Islamabad. In his response, Asif stated that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir attended as a messenger of peace to promote regional stability following last year's military conflict with India. Asif added that the military leadership helped pave the way for discussions aimed at averting further confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Key facts
- The Tehran meeting brought together Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.
- The attendees agreed to maintain dialogue to enhance cooperation regarding regional peace and security.
- Asif noted he is directly involved in formal defence agreements, such as the Makkah defence pact and the Badr Memorandum of Understanding, but stated the Tehran meeting was a separate peace effort.
- Asif criticized Rehman's past political record and accused him of attacking government diplomacy because JUI-F did not receive a share in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Specific dates for the Tehran session were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, the parliamentary debate underscores political tensions surrounding Pakistan's international diplomacy and military peace efforts. Asif urged lawmakers to put aside political rivalries to acknowledge the country's diplomatic achievements and advised parliamentarians to engage in constitutional politics focused on national security rather than personal conflicts.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 29, 2026 · Photo by Brijender Dua on Unsplash
