Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Monday said that around 5,000-6,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters were brought back, given shelter and amnesty during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government.
“The army conducts an operation against terrorists, but the civilian government of this area does not fulfil its responsibility,” the minister said while speaking to a news channel.
Asif further revealed that former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-Inter Services Intelligence director general Faiz Hamid dealt with the TTP and only gave a brief overview to them on the matter.
“They [former generals] painted a picture as if all was good in Swat,” he said, adding that the politicians, most notably Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, had raised questions in the relevant briefing but were not allowed to speak much.
Commenting on his meetings with Afghan ministers and leaders, the defence minister said that he didn’t feel any animosity or hostility against Pakistan during his interaction with the officials from the neighbouring country.
Lamenting the country’s history of being engaged in wars, Asif said: “General Zia ul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf fought wars to extend their rule. Gen Zia destroyed religion, social structure and society, took the money and became a part of the Afghan war [against Russia].”
