Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan has not awarded any mineral mine or mining contract to the United States. He said discussions about mineral development remain at an initial stage. Asif added that the US, China, Canada and Australia have expressed interest in Pakistan’s valuable mineral resources.
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Asif said Pakistan needs foreign investment and expertise to extract its mineral wealth. He added that the country would work with partners it considers reliable and secure. His remarks came amid growing international interest in Pakistan’s mineral sector and potential investment opportunities.
The defence minister also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s previous handling of terrorism. He alleged that the former provincial administration failed to act against known militant hideouts, allowing attacks to increase. Asif called for cooperation between federal and provincial authorities, saying security operations must be followed by effective governance to prevent militants from returning.
Discussing governor’s rule, Asif said the government had not planned the measure from the beginning. He described it as a last resort after other options had been exhausted. He also alleged that some opponents criticised the new provincial arrangement because they had not received a role in it. Asif accused political rivals of prioritising power over public interests.
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Asif also discussed past political negotiations, early elections and disagreements involving PTI and JUI-F. He claimed that some parties had opposed immediate elections after the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan. He further criticised opposition leaders over their response to security personnel killed in attacks. These comments reflect Asif’s political position, while the allegations against rival parties remain attributed to him.