News Brief
'We Have Been Doing This Dirty Work’: Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Admits Islamabad's Role in Supporting Terrorists
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly acknowledged the country’s historical role in supporting terrorist groups, news agency ANI reported.
In a now-viral interview with Sky News presenter Yalda Hakim, Asif responded to a pointed question about Pakistan’s history of aiding terrorist.
"But you do admit, you do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations?" Hakim asked.
In response, Asif said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about 3 decades... and the West, including Britain... That was a mistake, and we suffered for that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan's track record was unimpeachable.”
Asif also warned of the possibility of an “all-out war” with India.
The attack, which targeted tourists, has led to a series of strong diplomatic and security responses from New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed firm retaliation asserting that the time has come to eliminate the remaining strongholds of terrorism.
The Indian government has announced several punitive measures, including suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, ordering them to exit the country within 40 hours, scaling back diplomatic staff, and halting the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960.
