'No secret that Pakistan has a past': Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto admits to country’s role in backing terror

Pakistan’s former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accepted the country’s troubled past in funding extremist groups, echoing recent admissions made by defence minister Khawaja Asif. In an interview with Sky News, Bhutto said, “I don’t think that it’s a secret that Pakistan has a past as far as extremist groups are concerned.”

Bhutto also pointed at Pakistan’s active role in funding and supporting the Mujahideen during the first Afghan war. “We did that in coordination and collaboration with Western powers,” he said. “Pakistan went through wave after wave of extremism… we suffered.”

However, Bhutto insisted that the situation has changed in recent years. “It is not something that we partake in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history… but we also learned our lessons,” he said.

He credited internal reforms and military operations, especially after the assassination of his mother Benazir Bhutto, with reversing the state’s policy on extremist elements. “We saw terrorist attack every other day… Pakistan has taken serious action, successful action against these groups.”
His comments follow those of Khawaja Asif, who admitted during a televised interview that “we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about 3 decades… and the West, including Britain.” Asif had called it “a mistake”, saying Pakistan paid a heavy price for aligning with the US during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the post 9/11 war on terror.
During his interview, Khwaja Asif had acknowledged, "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."
India-Pakistan tensions have escalated since the Pahalgam terror attack which left 26 dead including a Nepali citizen. India responded with a raft of measures including cancelling visas for Pakistani nationals, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and reducing diplomatic staff.
India has also barred all Pakistan-registered aircraft, including military planes, from its airspace from midnight of April 30–May 1 until May 23, as per a NOTAM issued Wednesday. The restriction covers all flight levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata regions. Pakistan had earlier barred Indian aircraft from its airspace starting April 24 at 6 pm.
US VP condemns Pahalgam terror attack
US Vice President JD Vance addressed last month’s terrorist attack in Pahalgam saying, “Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict.”
Vance urged Pakistan to cooperate in locating the perpetrators: “To the extent that they’re responsible, [Pakistan] cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists… are hunted down and dealt with.” He also said, “I’m worried about any time you see a hot spot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers.”