NEW DELHI– Pakistan’s long-denied role in fostering terrorism was laid bare recently when the country’s own Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, publicly admitted to supporting terrorist networks. His stunning confession not only confirmed long-held suspicions about Pakistan’s complicity in terror activities but also highlighted the far-reaching impact of its policies—well beyond Kashmir, extending into Islamic nations, the Middle East, and even Europe.
“We have been doing this dirty work for the U.S. for the past three decades, including the West and the UK,” Asif said, candidly acknowledging Pakistan’s history of harboring extremists and using its territory as a base for terrorism under the guise of geopolitical strategy.
The minister’s admission comes amid rising tensions following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 civilians lost their lives. Investigations have pointed to Pakistani involvement, with former Pakistani Army officer Hashim Moosa identified as a key perpetrator. Moosa, previously a member of Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group, is believed to have joined the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and played a central role in orchestrating the attack. A large-scale manhunt is now underway to apprehend him.
Pakistan’s use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy is well-documented, with successive governments and intelligence agencies enabling the spread of extremist ideology and insurgent violence. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif publicly acknowledged Pakistan’s role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, while former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf admitted to supporting militant groups fighting in Kashmir.
Terrorism Exported Beyond Borders
Afghanistan:
Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has long been linked to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, offering funding, safe havens, and training. These groups were behind devastating attacks on Afghan civilians, government institutions, and international targets, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian Embassy and the 2011 assault on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Author and journalist Carlotta Gall wrote that the Indian Embassy bombing was not the act of rogue ISI elements but “was sanctioned and monitored by the most senior officials in Pakistani intelligence.”
Iran:
The Sunni extremist group Jaish ul-Adl, operating from Pakistan, has repeatedly attacked Iranian security forces in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. Iran has responded with military strikes targeting terrorist camps inside Pakistan’s Balochistan region. Tehran has repeatedly accused Islamabad of sheltering Sunni militants and turning a blind eye to their cross-border raids.
Russia:
In April 2024, a possible Pakistan link surfaced during investigations into the Moscow concert hall terrorist attack. Russian authorities identified a Tajik national as the mastermind but are exploring connections to Pakistani networks for possible ideological or logistical support.
United Kingdom:
The 2005 London bombings, which killed 52 people, had direct ties to Pakistan. Three of the attackers—Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, and Germaine Lindsay—traveled to Pakistan between 2003 and 2005, where they were reportedly indoctrinated and trained at terrorist camps.
The Bin Laden Revelation:
Perhaps the most glaring example of Pakistan’s complicity came in 2011 when U.S. Navy SEALs killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a covert raid in Abbottabad. Bin Laden had lived for years in a compound just miles from Pakistan’s elite military academy, raising serious questions about whether Pakistani authorities knowingly sheltered one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.
Bin Laden’s death underscored the extent to which terrorist figures have found refuge in Pakistan, further damaging its credibility in global counterterrorism efforts.
As tensions with India flare once again in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, the world is taking renewed notice of Pakistan’s extensive and persistent involvement in global terrorism. From its western neighbors to major powers across Europe, the effects of Pakistan’s terror networks continue to reverberate far beyond its borders. (Source: IANS)
