In what India has described as a damning self-confession, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has openly admitted that his country has for the past three decades been “supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations” — remarks made during an interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim.
Asked if he agreed that Pakistan had a long history of nurturing terror groups, Asif said, “Yes, we have been doing this dirty work for America and the West, including Britain, for the last three decades.”
The startling remarks come as Islamabad finds itself increasingly cornered following the Pahalgam terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people—mostly tourists from other parts of India—were killed.
Asif’s statements, broadcast internationally, are being viewed by Indian officials as an unprecedented admission that corroborates New Delhi’s repeated assertions at global fora regarding Pakistan’s role in fomenting terrorism in the region.
In the same interview, Asif made another contentious claim, asserting that the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba “doesn’t exist anymore.” He further denied knowledge of its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), which has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre.
“Lashkar is an old name. It does not exist,” Asif said.
Following the revelations and the attack, India retaliated with a raft of measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, and the closure of the Attari land-transit point.
In response, Pakistan has scrapped visa facilities for Indian nationals and placed the Shimla Agreement on hold. Islamabad has warned that New Delhi’s move to suspend water flow under the treaty would be viewed as an “act of war.”
“Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an act of war,” Pakistan said in an official statement.
India has also revoked all visas issued to Pakistani citizens effective April 27, and advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return immediately. Visa services for Pakistani nationals have been suspended indefinitely.
The developments come amid nationwide outrage in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to bring those responsible for the killings to justice.
“Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers,” Mr Modi said while addressing a rally in Madhubani.
“We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India’s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister further thanked world leaders and countries that had expressed solidarity with India in the wake of the attack.
“Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us,” Mr Modi said.
India maintains that evidence of cross-border involvement in the Pahalgam attack is irrefutable, and Asif’s comments have only reinforced the urgency with which New Delhi plans to pursue global diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.
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