Pakistan, June 16 -- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that thousands of Pakistani soldiers and civilians have been martyred in terrorism incidents since 2022, which he linked to militant activity operating from Afghan territory. Speaking during a National Assembly session, he stressed that terrorism remains one of Pakistan's most serious security challenges. He urged greater regional cooperation to prevent militant groups from using cross-border sanctuaries to launch attacks.

Addressing lawmakers during a policy debate, Khawaja Asif rejected claims that Pakistan had failed to engage diplomatically with Afghanistan on security concerns. He stated that Islamabad had repeatedly raised the issue through direct contacts and high-level m...