India, Feb. 11 -- Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has delivered one of the most candid acknowledgements yet of Islamabad's controversial alignment with the United States, accusing Washington of exploiting Pakistan for strategic gains before abandoning it.

Speaking in Pakistan's National Assembly, Asif said the country had been "used for a purpose and then thrown away like a piece of toilet paper," a remark that has triggered sharp political reactions and renewed debate over Pakistan's foreign policy history.

Addressing lawmakers, Asif conceded that Pakistan has often avoided confronting its past decisions, particularly its role in supporting militant networks during previous decades.

He described the denial of the country's te...