Afghanistan, Feb. 10 -- Pakistan defense minister tells parliament past Afghanistan wars served political interests, not religion, while regional security consequences continue affecting national policy debates.
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told parliament on Monday that Soviet forces were invited by Afghanistan's government, arguing the term occupation reflected a narrative shaped largely by the United States.
He said Pakistan's involvement in conflicts connected to Afghanistan was driven by political necessity and the search for superpower backing rather than religious solidarity or ideological motives.
Analysts note Pakistan became a frontline state during both the Soviet-Afghan war and the post-2001 conflict, hosting supp...