Pakistan Defense Minister Rejects ‘Jihad’ Label for Afghan-Soviet War

DID Press: Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Muhammad Asif, challenged the widely accepted narrative of the Afghan war against the Soviet Union during a speech in the National Assembly, saying that conflict should not be considered a “jihad.”

Asif claimed that the Soviet Red Army entered Afghanistan at the invitation of the then Kabul government, arguing that “no invasion occurred.” He further asserted that the portrayal of the war as a jihad and Soviet aggression was largely constructed by the United States.

Acknowledging Islamabad’s role in Afghanistan’s conflicts, Asif admitted that Pakistan had intervened in two wars within the country and is still dealing with the consequences of these actions.

These remarks contrast sharply with the view held by Islamic scholars worldwide, who consider the Afghan resistance against Soviet forces a legitimate jihad. The former communist government in Kabul, lacking broad support among Afghanistan’s Muslim population, is widely regarded as having limited legitimacy both domestically and internationally.