Pakistan Ministers Deny Defence Pact After Tehran Talks Dispute
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denied negotiating a defence agreement in Iran following criticism from JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
A political confrontation erupted in Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate after JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman accused the government of negotiating a secret defence agreement in Iran without the presence of the Defence Minister. Rehman mocked Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for remaining in Pakistan while Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on October 26.
Responding to the allegations, Khawaja Asif clarified that Field Marshal Asim Munir's visit was intended to promote regional peace and dialogue rather than negotiate a formal agreement, rendering the minister's presence unnecessary. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi added that his own visit to Tehran was a special assignment from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding an ongoing crisis. Both ministers explicitly denied that any defence agreement was being negotiated in Tehran.
The dispute escalated into personal attacks, with Asif accusing Rehman of exploiting religion for financial gain and questioning his record as chairman of the parliamentary Kashmir Committee. Naqvi stated that his respect for Rehman ended after the JUI-F chief allegedly made filthy remarks about state institutions. Despite the internal friction, Asif affirmed that Pakistan remains committed to defending Saudi Arabia with full force under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
