Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has asserted that Pakistan’s current hybrid governance model under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is functioning effectively, crediting a strong civil-military consensus for its success.
Speaking on Geo News’ Capital Talk, Asif highlighted the contrast with the PTI-era arrangement, claiming that its hybrid model failed due to a fundamental lack of trust between then-Prime Minister Imran Khan and the military establishment.
“There was no mutual trust in their partnership — it was destined to fall apart,” he said.
Asif further remarked on PTI’s current internal disarray, stating, “Their infighting is on full public display. I don’t even need to comment — it speaks for itself.”
The defence minister also revealed that Imran Khan had once lobbied to offer a lifetime extension to former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, a move that, he suggested, contradicted the PTI chief’s later anti-establishment rhetoric.
On national security, Asif confirmed that Pakistan has handed over “solid evidence” to the Afghan government regarding terrorist elements operating from within Afghanistan’s borders.
“We have persistently urged the Afghan authorities to take action against these groups using their territory to destabilise Pakistan,” he said.
Touching on the political landscape, Asif said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is free to decide whether it wants to join the current government. He described the PPP-PDM collaboration during the previous tenure as a positive experience.
A day earlier, in a separate interview, Asif expressed hope for renewed cooperation between major political players, including PML-N and PPP, to jointly pursue a national development agenda.
“If both parties can agree on a common framework for progress, it would be a welcome development. My view comes from years of political experience — not insider details,” he clarified.
Asif’s remarks come amid growing speculation over possible political realignments and efforts to build consensus amid economic and security challenges.
