Minister admits Pak supported terrorism

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has admitted the country's history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations as "dirty work" for the West, a mistake for which he said Pakistan had suffered.

- Rezaul H Laskar

LONDON:

In an interview with Sky News aired overnight, news presenter Yalda Hakim questioned Asif on Pakistan's response and stance on terrorism in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people earlier this week.

"You do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations," asked Hakim.

"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. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan's track record... was an unimpeachable track record," he said.

"It is very convenient for... the big powers 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 winning and dining in Washington.