In what seems to be a fresh addition to his long list of controversial remarks, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has sparked outrage by taking a swipe at US politicians, claiming they openly accept bribes from Israel and suggesting he would only do so in secrecy.
Pakistan Unjustly Maligned For Corruption
The Pakistan Defence Minister said this during an interview with journalist Shahzeb Khanzada on Geo TV. During the interview, Asif argued that Pakistan is being unjustly maligned for corruption. On the contrary, he alleged that American politicians, lawmakers, and the ruling elite openly receive financial support from Israel and its lobbying groups.
“We are being defamed for taking bribes. American politicians accept bribes from Israel openly. If I have to take bribes, I will do it in a backroom somewhere,” he said
US Has Institutionalized Corruption
Khawaja Asif further claimed that while Pakistan is constantly accused of corruption, the US has institutionalized such practices under the guise of political funding.
In the same program on Geo TV, Khawaja Asif also proposed the idea of Islamic countries forming a collective security system along the lines of NATO, which he described as a “defensive alliance.”
His comments come at a time of heightened global tensions, as Israel intensifies its attacks on Gaza and US officials reaffirm their support for Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still battling a corruption trial, which he has dismissed as politically motivated.
Khawaja Asif’s Earlier Controversial Remarks
This is not the first time Khawaja Asif has made bold allegations. Last month, he claimed that over half of Pakistan’s senior diplomats were sending illegal funds abroad, mainly to Portugal. He said corruption lets bureaucrats gain foreign assets and citizenship, while politicians are left with only “leftovers.”
Khawaja Asif had claimed that, unlike bureaucrats, politicians “do not own plots or hold foreign citizenship” and only get “leftovers” because they must contest elections, which limit their ability to enjoy such privileges.
