Khawaja Asif tells Haqqani not to act like an enemy.

On Friday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Interior Minister of the Afghan Taliban, may settle Pakistan’s enemies in his home if he wanted to. However, he should not join them in being an enemy or let Afghan territory be used against Pakistan.

The defense minister told the Afghan Taliban government that Pakistan supported them throughout the war against the Soviet Union. He stated they were guests in Pakistan and that their families had been hosted there for decades. He added that there are still millions of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.

Khawaja Asif went on to say that Haqqani and his family were also guests of Pakistan. In exchange, they gave sanctuary to Pakistan’s adversaries and killers and became friends with those who spilled blood on its streets. He said he met him [Sirajuddin Haqqani] in Kabul and told him not to help Pakistan’s enemies or stand with them.

The defense minister said that the Taliban had sought for money and that Pakistan was even willing to give it to them, but there was no promise in return. He remarked that the elder who the name “Haqqani” is based on was a very important and respected person, and that the name should be kept sacred.

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