Chandigarh, February 11, 2026: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has openly acknowledged that the country made serious strategic errors by aligning with the United States during the Afghan wars, describing the decision as one that continues to haunt the nation.
Addressing members of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Asif said the United States used Pakistan to achieve its geopolitical objectives and then abandoned it once its goals were fulfilled. In a sharply worded remark, he stated that Pakistan was treated “worse than a piece of toilet paper,” reflecting deep frustration over how the partnership unfolded.
Asif admitted that Pakistan’s involvement in the two Afghan wars — particularly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 — was a mistake. After the attacks, Islamabad sided with Washington and distanced itself from the Taliban. While the United States eventually withdrew from Afghanistan, Pakistan remained entangled in the aftermath, facing escalating terrorism, growing radicalisation, and mounting economic challenges.
The Defence Minister also acknowledged that Pakistan has long denied aspects of its past role in supporting militancy. He said this continued denial has damaged the country internally and internationally. According to him, the terrorism Pakistan struggles with today is rooted in decisions taken under previous military governments.
Without mincing words, Asif pointed to former military rulers General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf. He argued that their governments chose to participate in the Afghan conflicts to please a global superpower rather than to serve Pakistan’s long-term interests. He dismissed the narrative that these wars were fought purely for religious reasons, saying individuals were mobilised under the banner of “jihad,” a move he described as misleading and harmful.
Khwaja Asif admits in Parliament that Pakistan rented itself out to the U.S. for war and was later discarded “like toilet paper”. Afghanistan was destroyed by policies now openly acknowledged in parliament. Millions suffered. Generations were lost. The world cannot look away now… pic.twitter.com/aEQjrm16ME
— Mariam Solaimankhil (@Mariamistan) February 10, 2026
Asif further claimed that Pakistan’s education system was reshaped during those years to justify the country’s involvement in the conflicts. The ideological shifts introduced at the time, he noted, still influence society today. He described the damage caused by those policies as irreversible, saying the human and economic losses suffered by Pakistan cannot be fully compensated.
His remarks have reignited debate over Pakistan–US relations and the broader consequences of decisions taken in the name of national security. By publicly admitting past miscalculations, Asif has brought renewed attention to a chapter of Pakistan’s history that continues to shape its present realities.