Afghan president trying to protect his seat: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Saturday said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was trying to protect his seat and his government did not have writ in the whole country.

Talking to a private news channel, the minister said Ashraf Ghani was a banker, not a politician. He said Afghan refugees should go to their homeland as they were burden on Pakistan’s economy.

The minister the evidence had been provided to Afghan government regarding Mullah Fazlullah but no action was taken against him.

He said Pakistan wanted cordial relations with all neighbouring countries. 

He said China was the all-weather friend of Pakistan and the latter was also enjoying good ties with America.

To a question, the minister said Pakistan could not hold talks with India without putting Kashmir issue into the agenda. He said Kashmir is the core issue for Pakistan and should be resolved through dialogue.

He said India is our enemy from the very start but wished that it should not remain enemy forever. He said democracy in the country was in its evolutionary process, adding that the defence of the country would further strengthen if the nation became stronger.

Khawaja Asif said Pakistan armed forces were strong, vigilant and powerful and the world acknowledged that Pakistan was better than India in technical weapons. He said such technical weapons could be used for safeguarding the motherland.

He said India levelled baseless allegations on Pakistan including Samjhautha Express and others but not even a single allegation was proved.

To another query, he said the national economy was further growing due to prudent policies of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government.