ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that the country may not require financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) within six months as defence procurement orders continue to rise.
Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, the minister noted that the world witnessed Pakistan’s resolve and military effectiveness during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
“The confrontation severely damaged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s credibility both domestically and internationally,” he said.
Asif noted that during the conflict, India approached the United States and also reached out to China for support, but Pakistan delivered a decisive response. “If India acts aggressively again, we will respond in the same manner,” he said.
He added that India’s confidence was shattered after the May 2025 war, noting: “Our aircraft have been tested, and we are receiving so many orders that Pakistan may not need the IMF in six months.”
Citing the example of Venezuela, Asif said the South American country did not possess a large army or advanced weaponry, contrasting it with Pakistan’s globally respected military strength. He highlighted that Pakistan’s armed forces had earned recognition worldwide.
He expressed concerns about the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying both groups had links with India. He claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government allowed TTP elements to collect extortion funds.
In response to a question, the minister said Russia had some justifications for its Ukraine attacks, but the Venezuelan conflict had no legal or moral basis. Khawaja Asif warned that the global order, fragile as it is, is under threat.
Regarding Israel, he questioned whether the United States had been misled or was complicit in Israeli actions. He recalled that in 2012, Israel had claimed Iran could deploy a nuclear bomb in days, and again in 2018 at the UN, Israel made false claims against Iran to justify potential attacks.
He called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the world’s “most wanted criminal” and “the worst perpetrator against humanity.” He urged that if the United States truly stands for human rights, Netanyahu should be brought to trial.
