From Pahalgam To Mumbai And Europe: How Pakistan Is Linked To Terrorism Across World
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently admitted that the country has been involved in backing, training, and funding terrorist organisations "for about three decades".
The tensions between India and Pakistan are simmering once again ever since cross-border linkages emerged in the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists.
Amid the rising tensions, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently admitted that the country has been involved in backing, training, and funding terrorist organisations "for about three decades". In another major development, Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto acknowledged the country's history with extremism, saying "Pakistan's past is not a secret".
Though Pakistan has maintained it was not involved in the attack in any manner, such admissions about its past with terror organisations raises questions on the country's stance on the issue, supporting India's claims that Pakistan harbors and supports terrorism.
Not just Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has been linked to various other terror activities across the world, be it in Europe, Iran, and even Moscow. Pakistan is also infamous for being a safe haven for terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Omar Sheikh, and Hafiz Saeed.
As India continues with its fight against terrorism and to expose how Pakistan has become the global epicenter of terrorism, here are some of the terror-related incidents and activities wherein Pakistan has been involved:
- Pahalgam Attack Involvement: Two terrorists of Pakistani origin — Hashim Musa and Talha Bhai (aka Abu Talha) — were involved in the Pahalgam terror attack. Security agencies suspect that Hashim Musa may have been a commando in Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG).
- 26/11 Mumbai Attack: In 2018, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif publicly admitted Pakistan's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Tahawwur Hussain Rana, extradited from the US recently for being a key planner of the attack, had served as a doctor in the Pakistani military.
- Musharraf’s Confession: Former military dictator Pervez Musharraf admitted to aiding terrorist groups in Kashmir to pressure India into talks.
- US Warning: Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had also warned Pakistan against "keeping snakes in the backyard," referring to its support for terrorist groups.
- Taliban and Haqqani Network: For years, Pakistan is said to have trained, funded, and sheltered the Taliban and the Haqqani network in Afghanistan.
- Terror Strikes on Embassies: The 2008 terror attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and the 2011 attack on the US Embassy were both traced back to Pakistan.
- Shariqullah’s Arrest: In March, Pakistan handed over terrorist Shariqullah to the FBI. He was accused of the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed over a dozen US soldiers. He was captured near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
- Moscow Concert Hall Attack: Terrorists arrested for the deadly attack in Moscow last year had links to Pakistan. They belonged to the ISIS-Khorasan group, which operates from Pakistan's territory.
- Iranian Attacks: The radical Sunni group Jaish ul-Adl, responsible for frequent attacks in Iran’s Sistan region, is linked to Pakistan’s Balochistan. Iran, in retaliation, conducted airstrikes on its camps in Balochistan last year.
- Osama bin Laden: The Al-Qaeda chief and mastermind of the 9/11 attacks Osama bin Laden was also found and killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
- Support to Bangladeshi Terror Groups: Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI has been accused of aiding Bangladesh-based extremist group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen.
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