Pakistan Defence Minister Admits to Funding Terror Groups, Escalating Tensions with India
In a stunning admission, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that his country has long funded and supported terrorist groups — a revelation that dismantles decades of official denials and validates India’s long-standing accusations.
Speaking to the UK’s Sky News, Asif admitted:
“We have been doing this dirty work for the United States and the West, including Britain, for about three decades.”
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed at least 26 lives, mostly tourists, in the worst such assault in Jammu and Kashmir in years.
Asked directly about Pakistan’s role in financing terrorism, Asif called it a “mistake” that has caused lasting harm.
“Had we not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later the post-9/11 conflicts, Pakistan’s track record would have been unimpeachable,” he said, placing blame partly on global powers.
The minister alleged that the United States had used terrorists as “proxies” during the Soviet-Afghan war, and that these very militants were once “whining and dining” in Washington.
India has consistently accused Pakistan of supporting terror groups operating in Kashmir. Notably, The Resistance Front (TRF) — a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba — has claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre.
Following the attack, India took decisive steps, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, a move Pakistan described as an “act of war.” In retaliation, Pakistan announced the suspension of trade ties with India and closed its airspace to Indian flights.
Warning of a possible escalation, Asif said:
“We will calibrate our response depending on India’s actions. If it comes to an all-out assault, there will be an all-out war.”
He added:
“If things spiral out of control, the consequences could be tragic. A conflict between two nuclear-armed nations should worry the entire world.”
Despite his admissions about Pakistan’s past, Asif then pivoted without offering evidence, bizarrely accusing India of staging the Pahalgam attack to spark a regional crisis.
Pressed on this point, Asif reiterated his claim:
“Yes, absolutely. India creates these situations.”
However, he also emphasized that his government categorically condemned terrorism “in all its forms.”
Reacting to Asif’s statements, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh said:
“The whole world knows Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism. Most terrorists are trained there. Now that Pakistan itself has confessed, it’s time they changed course. India’s stand is justified. All 140 crore Indians stand united. Terrorists must be given the harshest punishment.”
