In a controversial interview with Sky News, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made headlines by admitting that his country has been doing the “dirty work” for Western nations—including the United States and Britain—for decades.
The remark came during a tense exchange over Pakistan’s long-standing association with terrorist organisations.
Pakistan’s defence minister admitted to Islamabad’s support to terrorist groups for the US during the Soviet-Afghan war and post-9/11, and also calling it a “mistake”. This comes after the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
The interview followed the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, in which 26 tourists were killed. India has blamed Pakistan-backed terror outfits for orchestrating the deadly strike.
When asked about Pakistan’s alleged ties to terrorism, Asif initially deflected but eventually said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States and the West, including Britain, for three decades.”
However, he quickly tried to walk back the statement, calling it a “mistake” and admitting that Pakistan has paid a heavy price for its involvement with militant groups.
Referencing groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), whose offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre, Asif bizarrely insisted, “Lashkar doesn’t exist anymore.” He added that Pakistan had “never heard” of The Resistance Front and denied its presence in the country.
In a further attempt to shift blame, Asif accused India of staging a crisis, saying, “The reaction from Delhi was expected. It’s a pattern. This time too, the accused organisation is unknown.”
Following the attack, India responded with a slew of security measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting a retaliatory move from Islamabad. Pakistan announced it would suspend all bilateral agreements with India, including the historic 1972 Simla Agreement.
The interview has sparked global debate, with critics slamming Pakistan’s continued denial and deflection despite mounting evidence of its ties to terror outfits.
