LAHORE: Acting Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan says Pakistan has received diplomatic support from the international community in its response to India.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, he said terrorists have no nationality and non-state actors often work for different agencies. He claimed that India’s “adventurism” failed and that Pakistan emerged as a responsible nation. He highlighted the sacrifices made by the armed forces and citizens and mentioned that Pakistan had apprehended terrorists in Balochistan.

He added that the ISPR DG had presented all the evidence about involvement of New Delhi in terrorist acts in Balochistan and now India should act responsibly.

Khan also spoke about the upcoming Independence Day, calling it a day to renew the pledge of allegiance to the country. He questioned how any political party could hold a protest on this day and urged universities to call for ensuring the sanctity of Aug 14. In his personal opinion, none should be allowed to turn Independence Day into a day of protest.

Regarding the federal government, Khan dismissed speculations, stating that the government is on the right track and the economy is improving. He pointed to the economic downturn from 2018 to 2021 and noted that the economy is now growing. He also praised the government’s successful completion of the IMF agreement, which he said has been lauded globally.

Responding to a query about Khwaja Asif’s allegation of corruption by senior bureaucrats, he said that Khwaja Asif is a respected elder and that there must be a good reason for anything he says.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2025