The Aporia · 'Don't go back like this': Pak minister's throat-cut gesture to Afghan journalist backfires

Pakistan's defense minister Khawaja Asif faced criticism for making a threatening gesture towards an Afghan journalist at the UN General Assembly in New York, when she questioned him about Pakistan’s stance on Taliban policies regarding Afghan women. The exchange occurred as tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated due to recent military strikes by Pakistan inside Afghanistan, which Kabul described as aggression leading to casualties. Online reactions were overwhelmingly negative, with many condemning Asif's behavior as inappropriate and threatening.

Written by AI on 2026-09-27, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, faced backlash on social media after making a threatening gesture during an interview with an Afghan woman journalist at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The journalist asked him about Pakistan’s stance towards the Taliban and their policies regarding Afghan women. When interrupted by Asif without receiving an answer, she pressed for a response, questioning why Pakistan did not speak out against these policies when the Taliban were allies.

Asif responded with a vague warning, gesturing across his neck as he said "Don't go back like this over there. They will... otherwise they will..," which was interpreted by many social media users to imply that the journalist could face harm if she returned to Afghanistan. This gesture sparked widespread condemnation online, highlighting tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan regarding the Taliban’s treatment of women.

Written for “Throat Cutting Gesture Controversy” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Throat Cutting Gesture Controversy

Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

This article reads unscored and hedges 14% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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Dawn

⚖️ Leans strongly right Hedges 1 of 17 claims Outlet record 72/100

“The articles describe different events: one is about Pakistan's defense minister making a controversial gesture towards an Afghan journalist, while the other is about Afghanistan's information minister speaking at a seminar.”

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Dawn

⚖️ Leans right Hedges 0 of 7 claims Outlet record 72/100

“The articles discuss different incidents: one is about Pakistan's defense minister making a threatening gesture towards an Afghan journalist at the UN General Assembly, and the other is about another Pakistani minister criticizing efforts to combat terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

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Abhishek Mishra

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Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has faced criticism on social media over a threat-like gesture he made towards an Afghan woman journalist who questioned him about Pakistan's ties with the Taliban and its response to the treatment of Afghan women. asserted

who → face → women

The incident took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. asserted

incident → take → York

The video clearly shows that journalist asked Asif what message Pakistan had for the Taliban over their policies toward Afghan women and why Islamabad had not challenged those policies when the Taliban were considered friends. asserted

Taliban → show → friends

Why at the beginning, Pakistan didn't teach them that," the journalist asked, according to a video of the exchange shared on social media. uncertain

journalist → teach → media

Asif interrupted her without answering the question and pointed towards her attire. asserted

Asif → interrupt → attire

They will... otherwise they will..," he said, while making a hand gesture across his neck. asserted

he → say → neck

The gesture drew strong condemnation online, with several social media users saying it appeared to imply that the journalist could be killed if she returned to Afghanistan. uncertain

she → draw → Afghanistan

Users also criticised Asif and the men accompanying him for laughing after his remarks. asserted

Users → criticise → remarks

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." asserted

minister → write → question

"A woman asking about the suffering of Afghan women deserved an answer not intimidation, mockery, and laughter," he added. asserted

he → ask → answer

The journalist's question centred on the Taliban's policies towards Afghan women and Pakistan's position on them. asserted

question → centre → them

Social media users said the response and the gesture were inappropriate and appeared to carry a threat of violence. asserted

response → say → violence

The incident comes amid fresh tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad carrying out aerial and drone strikes inside Afghanistan early Thursday. asserted

Islamabad → come → Afghanistan

The Taliban also confirmed to news agency Reuters that 28 "fighters" were killed after crossing from Pakistan into eastern Afghanistan. asserted

fighters → confirm → Afghanistan

The ruling-authority in Kabul also added that most of them were former Afghan security personnel. asserted

most → add → them

Pakistan called the strikes as "precision attacks" on 10 locations. asserted

Pakistan → call → locations

Federal information minister Atauallah Tarar said the operation was carried out in response to drones launched from Afghanistan a day earlier. asserted

operation → say → Afghanistan

According to Dawn, Tarar said in a post on X that the strikes targeted locations allegedly used for launching and storing drones. uncertain

strikes → accord → drones

He described the operation as "deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate and strictly limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks against Pakistan". asserted

He → describe → Pakistan

Afghanistan has warned Pakistan of "dire consequences" over the strikes, describing them as blatant aggression. "In this criminal aggression, four of our fellow Afghan compatriots have been martyred. asserted

four → warn → compatriots

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. asserted

Mujahid → condemn → principles

Cross-border hostilities between the two neighbours have continued in recent weeks, with Pakistan carrying out military action, including aerial strikes, inside Afghanistan. asserted

Pakistan → continue → Afghanistan

'Don't go back like this': Pak minister's throat-cut gesture to Afghan journalist backfires - video

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