Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted that Pakistan had supported and trained terrorists for the last three decades. Speaking to journalist Yalda Hakim, Asif said that this was done for the United States and the West, including Britain. He said, "We have been doing this dirty work for the US and the West, including Britain, for three decades."

His remark has been seen as a strong confirmation of what India has been saying for a long time — that Pakistan has supported terrorism. The statement also came just days after the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 tourists were killed. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers.

Pakistan says it was a mistake

After making the statement, Khawaja Asif said that supporting terrorism was a "mistake" and that Pakistan had to suffer because of it. "If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on, following the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan would have an unimpeachable track record," he added.

Pakistan supported the United States during the Cold War in the 1980s, when the US was fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Pakistan also helped the US after the 9/11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda. Asif even said that the US used terrorists as "proxies" to fight the Soviets.

Minister warns of full war if India attacks

During the same interview, Pakistan’s defence minister also accused India of staging the Pahalgam attack to create a crisis. He said India was trying to blame Pakistan without proof. Asif also claimed that groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba no longer exist. "Lashkar is an old name. It does not exist... Our government has condemned it (the Pahalgam attack) categorically. Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism for decades," he said.

When asked about India possibly attacking Pakistan in response, just like it did after the Pulwama attack in 2019, Asif warned of a dangerous situation. "If there is an all-out attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war... The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome," he warned.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that India would "identify, trace, and punish" all those involved in the Pahalgam killings. In response to the attack, India has already taken strong steps such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cutting off diplomatic ties, and cancelling all Pakistani visas. Pakistan has also reacted with similar countermeasures.

 

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