In a scathing critique of Pakistan’s foreign policy, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly that the nation spent two decades “renting itself out” to the United States. His remarks highlighted a deep sense of betrayal, suggesting that Pakistan gained nothing but radicalization and economic instability from its alliance with Washington.

The “Toilet Paper” Analogy Asif did not mince words while describing the US-Pakistan relationship post-9/11. “Pakistan was treated worse than toilet paper; it was used for a purpose and then thrown away,” he stated. He argued that the realignment after 1999 was not a strategic choice for national security but a desperate move by military rulers to gain international legitimacy.

Deconstructing the Jihad Narrative In a major departure from state rhetoric, Asif admitted that the wars fought in Afghanistan—both the anti-Soviet struggle in the 80s and the post-2001 conflict—were never about defending Islam. “We did not enter these wars for jihad. We entered them for the support of a superpower,” he confessed. He even pointed out how the national education system was manipulated to justify these conflicts to the public.

The Fallout: TTP and Border Conflict The Defence Minister linked today’s terrorism crisis directly to these “irreversible mistakes.” Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the blowback has intensified, with the TTP launching cross-border strikes from Afghan sanctuaries. Following recent skirmishes in October 2025, Asif’s speech serves as a grim reminder that the consequences of past proxy wars are still haunting Pakistan’s soil.