ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has termed the opposition leader’s recent remarks about the Pakistan Army as “irresponsible,” saying such statements do not suit a national office.

Addressing the National Assembly, Khawaja Asif said the opposition leader had claimed that the Pakistan Army was “an army of four districts.” He said he did not expect such a statement from the leader of the opposition and accused him of attempting to level allegations against the armed forces.

“Every sensible person knows that the Pakistan Army belongs to the entire country. Its identity is national,” the defence minister said.

Sharing figures on military casualties, Khawaja Asif said the armed forces had rendered 3,141 sacrifices over the past five years. From 2021 to February 2026, 170 officers, 212 junior commissioned officers (JCOs), and 2,759 soldiers embraced martyrdom.

He further stated that the highest number of martyrs belonged to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (2,034), followed by Punjab (1,657), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (534), Sindh (452), Gilgit-Baltistan (161), and Balochistan (103). He questioned how, in light of these figures, anyone could describe the army as belonging to only four districts.

“The office of the Leader of the Opposition is a national office, not a district-level position. Making irresponsible statements from such a platform is an insult to the office,” he said, adding that the fight against terrorism is a national struggle.

Khawaja Asif emphasized that the Pakistan Army represents the entire country and continues to make sacrifices in the war against terrorism. “Our martyrs are our red line. A martyr is first and foremost a Pakistani, not someone belonging to a specific district,” he said.

The National Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the armed forces and paying tribute to the martyrs. The resolution was presented by the defence minister.