In a tense interview with Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim, senior Pakistani politician and former ambassador Sherry Rehman was pressed about Pakistan’s alleged connections to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people.
The conversation turned fiery as Hakim raised Pakistan’s link to Brigade 313, a terror outfit affiliated with al Qaeda, according to the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC).
When asked directly about the group’s presence in Pakistan, Rehman denied any association and offered to produce “any number of pages” to dispute the claims. She referred vaguely to a “digital dossier” to defend Pakistan’s position and shifted focus to India’s internal security issues: “Are we responsible for all 100 insurgencies running in India?” she questioned.
Hakim also cited “Operation Sindoor”, India’s retaliatory strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation reportedly killed JeM commander Masood Asghar and his family. Rehman, however, responded cryptically: “Children are not leaders,” dismissing the reports as biased and “aligned with India’s narrative.”
The interview has garnered attention amid growing India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack, with critics accusing Islamabad of continuing to shield terror groups operating from its soil.
Yalda Hakim’s Interviews Put Pakistani Leaders in Hot Seat
Afghanistan-born journalist Yalda Hakim has gone viral in recent weeks for her assertive interviews with top Pakistani officials. In a previous exchange on April 24, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif openly admitted to supporting terrorist groups in the past—calling it “dirty work” done for the U.S. and Western allies.
On May 7, Hakim confronted Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who denied the existence of terror camps in Pakistan. She countered by quoting earlier statements from Pakistan’s own leadership acknowledging their presence.
As pressure mounts internationally, Hakim’s interviews have spotlighted Pakistan’s continued evasions on terrorism, especially in the wake of deadly attacks like the one in Pahalgam.
