Naqvi, Asif respond to Fazl’s Tehran meeting jib...

Summary

• ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have rejected Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s criticism over Pakistan’s representation at a recent meeting in Tehran, clarifying that the gathering was focused on regional peace and crisis management rather than defence cooperation.
• The JUI-F chief had questioned why Asif remained in Islamabad while Naqvi attended the meeting involving officials from Iran and countries associated with the Makkah defence pact.
• The Tehran meeting brought together Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

AI Generated Summary

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have rejected Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s criticism over Pakistan’s representation at a recent meeting in Tehran, clarifying that the gathering was focused on regional peace and crisis management rather than defence cooperation.

The ministers responded to Fazl’s remarks in the National Assembly and Senate on Thursday. The JUI-F chief had questioned why Asif remained in Islamabad while Naqvi attended the meeting involving officials from Iran and countries associated with the Makkah defence pact.

The Tehran meeting brought together Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials also attended.

The participants agreed to continue dialogue to strengthen regional cooperation, particularly on peace and security.