Pak minister’s throat-cut gesture to Afghan journalist
Controversy Erupts Over Minister’s Gesture Towards Journalist
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has come under fire on social media following a threatening gesture he made towards an Afghan journalist. The journalist questioned him about Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban and its stance on the treatment of Afghan women.
During the exchange, she asked, “What’s your message to the Taliban now? To change their policy towards Afghan women? Why at the beginning, Pakistan didn’t teach them that?” In response, Asif made a hand gesture across his neck while warning, “Don’t go back like this over there. They will… otherwise they will..,” which many interpreted as a veiled threat.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding Pakistan’s diplomatic approach to the Taliban and the implications for Afghan women’s rights.
Federal information minister Atauallah Tarar said the operation was carried out in response to drones launched from Afghanistan a day earlier.
Social media users said the response and the gesture were inappropriate and appeared to carry a threat of violence. Pakistan called the strikes as “precision attacks” on 10 locations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns these blind and cowardly attacks in the harshest terms, considering them a flagrant violation of all principles, a blatant aggression, and a crime,” Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
A user on X wrote: “This is an utterly disgraceful way for a senior government minister to respond to a woman asking a serious question. The journalist’s question centred on the Taliban’s policies towards Afghan women and Pakistan’s position on them. “In this criminal aggression, four of our fellow Afghan compatriots have been martyred.