Islamabad, April 27, 2025 — In a striking admission, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has acknowledged that Islamabad supported terrorist groups on behalf of Western powers, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, for decades.
Speaking in an interview with Sky News released on Friday, Asif candidly stated that Pakistan did “the dirty work” for the West during various conflicts, highlighting the long-standing practice of using militant groups as proxies in the region’s geopolitical struggles.
“The West has used terrorist groups as instruments of foreign policy,” Asif said. “Those who are now branded as terrorists were once hailed and welcomed in Washington.”
Asif’s comments point to Pakistan’s controversial involvement during the Cold War era and the post-9/11 conflicts, particularly its role in Afghanistan where militant groups received external support to counter Soviet influence. He suggested that while Pakistan bore the brunt of the consequences—facing internal insecurity, instability, and the rise of extremist factions—the initial impetus for this strategy was driven by Western interests.
The defense minister’s remarks come at a sensitive time, as Pakistan grapples with renewed internal security challenges and strained ties with Western allies. His frank acknowledgment is likely to stir debates both domestically and internationally about the long-term impact of proxy wars and the true costs borne by countries like Pakistan.
Analysts say Asif’s statement reflects growing frustration within Islamabad over what is perceived as Western hypocrisy—where past alliances with militant groups are now disavowed without accountability, leaving regional players to manage the fallout.
As global powers reassess their security policies in South Asia, Asif’s admission adds a rare layer of public candor to a history often marked by denial and blame-shifting.