Pakistan’s defence minister says Field Marshal Asim Munir travelled to Tehran to support regional peace efforts, rejecting Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s criticism over his absence from the meeting.
ISLAMABAD – WEB DESK: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has rejected criticism from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his absence from a recent high-level meeting in Tehran, saying the discussions focused on regional peace rather than a new defence agreement.
Speaking during a National Assembly session on Thursday, October 29, Asif said the meeting did not concern Pakistan’s defence and therefore did not fall within the Defence Ministry’s mandate. He described Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran as an effort to facilitate dialogue and prevent regional escalation.
Why did Fazlur Rehman criticise Khawaja Asif?
The exchange followed remarks by Fazlur Rehman in parliament on Wednesday. The JUI-F chief questioned why the defence minister had remained in Pakistan while senior officials were attending a meeting in Tehran involving countries associated with the Makkah Defence Pact and Iranian representatives.
Fazlur Rehman suggested that a defence agreement was taking shape in Iran and questioned the government’s handling of the diplomatic engagement. His comments prompted a response from Asif during Thursday’s session.
Asif says Asim Munir went to Tehran to promote peace
Asif said Field Marshal Asim Munir had travelled to Tehran as a “messenger of peace” rather than to negotiate a new military arrangement.
The defence minister credited Munir with helping prevent a wider confrontation and said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts could contribute to improved regional stability. He also referred to the possibility of progress on tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the coming days.
Asif urged political parties to recognise Pakistan’s diplomatic role despite their differences with the government.
What happened at the Tehran meeting?
The meeting brought together senior representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Iran.
Participants included Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iranian representatives included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior national security officials.
According to reporting, the participants agreed to continue dialogue aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, particularly on peace and security. Asif maintained that the meeting was not intended to negotiate a new defence pact.
Defence minister criticises Fazlur Rehman
Asif’s response extended beyond the Tehran meeting, with the minister questioning Fazlur Rehman’s political record and criticising his earlier cooperation with government parties.
He referred to their previous political alliance under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which led the coalition that removed the PTI-led government through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Asif also acknowledged that his own political side had made mistakes by entering into compromises to obtain power. He said remaining on the opposition benches would, in his view, have preserved greater political dignity.
