Pakistan military calls the shots on foreign policy, admits Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has admitted that the country’s military establishment exercises substantial influence over foreign policy, diplomatic engagement and key government decisions, bringing renewed attention to the military’s dominant position in Pakistan’s political system. In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan in September 2025, Asif defended Pakistan’s so-called ‘hybrid governance model’, under which civilian and military authorities jointly participate in decision-mak

NewsBeagle is a discovery engine. We show the headline, a short source-supplied summary and clear attribution. The complete reporting remains with the publisher.