Islamabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made a bold statement regarding the nation’s historical relationship with the United States, accusing Washington of taking advantage of Islamabad for its own strategic goals before discarding it once those goals were met.

During a session in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Asif recognized the nation’s contentious past connections with terrorism, labeling them as mistakes made during military rule.

He pointed out that Pakistan frequently shies away from acknowledging its own history related to terrorism, referring to it as a “blunder made by past dictators.”

The minister criticized Pakistan’s engagement in two Afghan wars, claiming that the terrorism currently plaguing the country is significantly a result of those choices.

Asif remarked on Islamabad’s strategic shift with Washington post-1999, especially regarding developments in Afghanistan, which he asserted has caused long-lasting harm to Pakistan.

He underscored the consequences of the geopolitical changes following September 11, 2001, stating that the cost Pakistan incurred for backing the United States in its global campaign against terror was immense.

“Pakistan was treated worse than a piece of toilet paper and was utilized for a purpose before being discarded,” he declared.

The Defence Minister highlighted that Pakistan allied with Washington once more during the US-led war in Afghanistan after 2001, which included a turn against the Taliban.

Despite the eventual US withdrawal, Asif stated, Pakistan was left to confront the repercussions, including ongoing violence, increased radicalization, and economic difficulties.

Asif also challenged the narrative that framed Pakistan’s involvement in the Afghan conflicts as a religious obligation.

He acknowledged that many citizens were mobilized to participate under the guise of jihad, arguing that this portrayal was misleading and harmful to the nation's long-term stability.

Addressing fellow lawmakers, Asif mentioned, “Two former military dictators (Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf) engaged in the war in Afghanistan, not out of Islamic duty, but to appease a superpower.”

He further stated, “We ignore our history and refuse to accept our mistakes. Terrorism is a consequence of the errors made by past dictators.”

The minister stressed that the damage inflicted on Pakistan due to these policies is irreversible.

“The losses we have incurred can never be compensated,” Asif asserted, characterizing the country’s previous decisions as “irreversible” blunders.

Asif claimed that the education system in Pakistan underwent ideological transformations during these periods to rationalize involvement in the wars, noting that these shifts in narratives continue to shape the nation’s social and political landscape today.