Bilawal Bhutto Admits Pakistan's Past Support for Terrorism Amid Rising Tensions Over Pahalgam Attack
Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Confirms Pakistan Nurtured Terrorists for Decades
Amid heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has publicly admitted that Pakistan made a grave mistake by fostering terrorists. His remarks come as a startling admission at a time when Pakistan’s global image is under renewed scrutiny.
While speaking to journalist Yalda Hakim on Sky News, Bilawal said, “It’s no secret that Pakistan has a certain history. The result is that we have suffered tremendously. We’ve seen a wave of extremism rise. But now, we have learned some lessons and are working on internal reforms to address these issues.”
Controversial Past Comments and a Startling U-turn
Just days earlier, Bilawal had sparked outrage by threatening India in response to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. “If water doesn’t flow in the Indus, we’ll spill blood, ” he had warned. His comments drew sharp criticism from international observers and Indian authorities alike.
However, in a major reversal, Bilawal now appears to back the earlier confession made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had openly acknowledged Pakistan's role in training and funding terrorists for the West during the Cold War.
Pakistan's Admission: A Global Embarrassment
Khawaja Asif had earlier stated, “For the past three decades, we have carried out this dirty work for the U.S. We trained and supported militants—not just for America, but for Britain as well. That was our mistake, and now we are paying the price.”
Bilawal Bhutto has now supported that view, admitting that Pakistan’s history of radicalization and militant support is real and that the country is still dealing with its consequences.
Pakistan Claims Internal Reforms Underway
According to Bilawal, Pakistan is trying to move forward, leaving behind the past. “Yes, we made mistakes. But we’re no longer shaped by that past. Today’s decisions are not influenced by those errors, ” he said. He emphasized that Pakistan has started implementing reforms to counter terrorism, and the results are beginning to show.