Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has told Afghan Taliban’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani to stay as guests in our country. We have been hosting your families for decades, fought the Soviet Union together, stopped your internal conflicts, and facilitated peace in Mecca. What did we gain in return? You gave refuge to our killers. Asif said that our target and your target was the same, and that was given to us by America. Now, let’s talk about 9/11. After that, we were definitely NATO’s allies, but America accused us of being Haqqani Network’s facilitators, assisting them, and providing them with aid. They would ask us about your whereabouts, do you remember? Were the allegations against us true or false? You tell the world. Asif said that from 1979 to 9/11, America stopped lifting us up and down, and both of us were like two boats racing against each other. We have been hosting your elders and their families for three generations. What did we gain in return? You gave refuge to our killers, played with the blood of innocent children, became allies of those who splattered blood in our streets, and became facilitators of our enemies. I went to Kabul and met you, and I asked you to not become our enemies’ allies and not provide them with aid. You promised to pay us, but we were not sure if you would keep your promise. Asif said that your ancestors were great, and we should respect their name. We don’t want anything from you, stay in your homes, and let us stay in ours. Let your enemies settle in your homes, but don’t become their allies. Our tradition, culture, and faith teach us to respect the homes where we take refuge.
Pakistan has increased security measures following a series of developments in the Middle East. Without disclosing the origin, incoming flights will no longer be allowed to park at Karachi Airport. The country has stockpiles of petroleum products due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The Ministry of Information has shared an image from 2021, showing a Russian plane crashing in Turkey, which was allegedly shared by the Afghan Taliban regime. Propaganda and false claims on their official accounts are shameful. Security measures have been tightened in Karachi, including the airport and surrounding areas. Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Moin ul Haque, has said that Iran is under attack, and the government is repatriating Pakistani citizens. The Foreign Office has strongly denied the Afghan Taliban’s claim that Pakistan shot down one of their planes. Following Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia, the government has directed the Air Traffic Control to closely monitor the country’s airspace. In a separate incident, a woman was killed in a domestic violence case in Lahore’s Green Town area. The Foreign Office has advised Pakistani citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran due to security concerns. In a crackdown on Afghan nationals, 83 people have been arrested in various districts, including Islamabad. The Pakistan Air Force has reportedly destroyed an Afghan military headquarters in Qandahar and hit two targets in the Nangarhar province. In Dir, a ban has been imposed on movement under Section 144. Around 32,400 lawyers will exercise their right to vote in the High Court Bar election. A dry spell is expected in Karachi and Lahore by the end of February.
