Risk Or Riks? First Or Sirst? Pakistan Defence Minister Fumbles During UN Speech

Last Updated:September 26, 2025, 17:24 IST

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif fumbles during UNSC AI Innovation Dialogue, sparking viral reactions online.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. (IMAGE: X)

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif repeatedly fumbled during his remarks at the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) AI Innovation Dialogue, chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Khawaja Asif committed at least seven verbal slips in his speech, ranging from mispronunciations to incoherent phrasing.

During the speech, Khawaja Asif described artificial intelligence as moving at a “breathtaking space” before quickly correcting himself to “breathtaking pace.” He mispronounced “risk” as “riks,” referred to “development” as “developend” and stumbled through terms like “instability” and “technological disparities.” While attempting to reference “six pillars” of AI-related challenges, Khawaja Asif first said “six pip-pillars.” He also initially pronounced “first time” as “sirst time,” before correcting himself mid-sentence.

A compilation clip of his errors, shared by ANI, went viral on social media. One user commented, “Operation Sindoor shook him” while another wrote, “He can’t even speak one sentence properly.”

“Arre kehna kya chahte ho?” [What are you trying to say?], read another comment.

Despite the missteps, Khawaja Asif attempted to reflect on the dangers posed by artificial intelligence in warfare as he warned that AI could lower the threshold for conflict, compress decision-making timelines and narrow diplomatic options.

“In the absence of global normative standards and legal guardrails, the AI revolution risks reinforcing digital divides, entrenching new forms of dependency, and imperiling peace,” Khawaja Asif said, fumbling again over the word “risk.”

He also referenced recent India-Pak tensions, citing India’s Operation Sindoor in May, launched after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. He alleged that the conflict saw the use of autonomous loitering munitions, high-speed dual-capable cruise missiles and drones. pointing to the dangers of AI-driven military technology.

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