- Friday, April 25, 2025
Khwaja Asif pointed out that Pakistan would have been better off had it not joined the war against the Soviet Union, and later on, after the 9/11 terror attacks in the US
By: India Weekly
PAKISTAN’S defense minister Khawaja Asif told a UK TV news channel that his country had supported terrorist organizations in the past to do the “dirty work” for the West, and admits that it was a mistake.
The minister said this when Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim questioned him about Pakistan’s stance on terrorism in the aftermath of Pahalgam terrorist attack in India.
Hakim asked, “You do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organizations.”
“Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain,” replied Asif.
“That was a mistake, and we suffered from that, and that is why you are saying this to me.”
He pointed out that if Pakistan had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11 terror attacks, its track record would have been much better.
Asif pointed out that the big powers now find it very convenient to blame Pakistan for whatever is happening in this region.
“When we were fighting the war on their side way back in the 80s against the Soviet Union, all these terrorists of today, they were wining and dining in Washington.
“And then came the 9/11 attacks. Again, the same situation was repeated. I think our governments then made a mistake,” he said.
Regarding the current escalation of tensions with India, Asif claimed India is making unsubstantiated allegations and said Pakistan is prepared to respond “in kind”.
“We will measure our response to whatever is initiated by India, according to that. It would be a measured response, if there is an all-out attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war,” he said.
When queried about The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, Asif claimed such an organization does not exist.
“Lashkar-e-Taiba doesn’t exist in Pakistan anymore. It is extinct … If the parent organisation does not exist, how can the offshoot take birth here,” said Asif.
Terrorists opened fire at a meadow teeming with tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people.
It is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
After the Pahalgam attack, India announced punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and downgrading diplomatic ties.
India on Thursday (24) announced the revocation of all visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 27 and advised Indian nationals residing in Pakistan to return home at the earliest.
In retaliation, Pakistan on Thursday put the Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold and suspended all trade.
Pakistan also closed its airspace for Indian airlines and said any attempt to divert the water meant for it under the Indus Water Treaty will be considered an Act of War. (PTI)
