A senior security official on Wednesday strongly criticised Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai over what he termed “unfortunate” and “factually incorrect” remarks about the Pakistan Army, intensifying a political row that began during a recent parliamentary session.
Achakzai had described the army as a “force of four districts” while addressing the lower house, drawing sharp reactions from treasury members. Responding to the statement while speaking to journalists in Lahore, the security official said dialogue was the right of all political parties but insisted that the armed forces had no role in politics. He emphasised that all legal and judicial matters must be resolved by courts in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
Referring to the security landscape, the official said recent consultations aimed at restoring peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had yielded encouraging signs. He added that visits to educational institutions demonstrated that the youth remained aligned with the armed forces, asserting that no narrative could undermine the relationship between the military and the public.
The official also maintained that the fight against terrorism was a collective national responsibility, not limited to the army, police or Frontier Corps. He accused India of backing terrorism in Pakistan and described what he called “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” as hostile to the people of Balochistan and an obstacle to the province’s development.
A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had termed Achakzai’s remarks irresponsible and an attempt to malign a national institution. While acknowledging the opposition leader’s right to hold personal views, Asif said attacks on the armed forces were inappropriate, particularly from someone holding public office.
Highlighting ongoing counterterrorism efforts, the defence minister said the armed forces continued to reaffirm their oath through sacrifices in the line of duty. Citing official data, he stated that 3,141 personnel had been martyred over the past five years, including 170 officers, 212 Junior Commissioned Officers and 2,759 soldiers between 2021 and February 2026.
Asif stressed that the army represented the entire federation rather than any specific region, adding that more than 200 militants had been killed in Balochistan in recent operations. He condemned attacks targeting soldiers, calling them inhumane and contrary to Islamic principles.
In response, Achakzai defended his position on the floor of the house. He said his community had historically made significant sacrifices and alleged that successive governments had marginalised Pashtuns despite their support for democratic processes. He argued that his people deserved representation in governance proportional to their population and questioned whether parliament existed to legitimise extra-constitutional interventions. However, he clarified that he respected an army that operated within constitutional limits.
The exchange has added to an already tense political climate, with debates over civil-military relations once again surfacing in the national legislature.