In a startling revelation, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly admitted that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training, and funding terrorist organizations—actions he described as “dirty work” carried out on behalf of the United States and its allies, including Britain.
In a now-viral interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim, Asif responded to pointed questions about Pakistan’s long-standing ties with terror outfits. When asked whether Pakistan has supported and funded terrorist groups, Asif candidly replied:
“We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades… and the West, including Britain. That was a mistake, and we suffered for that. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan’s track record was unimpeachable.”
This admission confirms long-held international suspicions about Pakistan’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism, having provided safe havens and operational support to extremist groups over the years.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Asif also warned of a potential “all-out war” with India, further escalating concerns about rising tensions in the region.
His comments come in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people—including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen—were killed. The Indian government has since taken a series of strong diplomatic measures in response, including:
- Closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari
- Suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, asking them to return within 40 hours
- Reducing staff at both Indian and Pakistani High Commissions
- Suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a major international water-sharing agreement
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that cross-border terrorist linkages were discussed during a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting following the attack. He emphasized that the strike was an attempt to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir, especially after peaceful elections and visible developmental progress in the Union Territory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to the attack, pledged that those behind the violence would face “punishment beyond their imagination” and affirmed that India would no longer tolerate any form of terrorism.
“The time has come to eliminate the remaining strongholds of terrorism,” Modi said. “The willpower of 140 crore Indians will now break the backbone of the perpetrators of terror.”
Asif’s admission has only validated India’s long-standing accusations and could further isolate Pakistan on the global diplomatic stage, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam tragedy.
