Bilawal Bhutto admits Pakistan’s terror links hurt the country, says nation has learned from its past

In a candid interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari acknowledged that Pakistan has suffered due to its historical involvement with terrorist organizations. However, he emphasized that the country has recognized its mistakes and taken steps to correct them through internal reforms.

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Speaking to Hakim on Thursday, Bhutto said, “It is not a secret that Pakistan has a past… As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem.”

His remarks come shortly after a striking admission from Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif, who acknowledged in a separate interview with Hakim that the country had supported and funded terrorist groups in the past. Asif said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades… and the West, including Britain… That was a mistake, and we suffered for that.”

Asif admitted that Pakistan’s involvement in the Soviet-Afghan war and later the post-9/11 conflict brought long-term repercussions. “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,” he added.

Bilawal Bhutto also addressed the issue publicly at a rally in Mirpur Khas on the same day, where he reiterated Pakistan’s desire for peace but issued a stern warning to India. “Pakistan is a peaceful country, and Islam is a peaceful religion. We do not want war, but if someone attacks our Sindhu, then they should be ready for war,” he said. “We don’t beat the drums of war, but if provoked, the roar of a united Pakistan will be deafening.”

These statements reflect a balancing act by Pakistan’s political leadership: acknowledging past mistakes to improve international credibility, while maintaining a strong nationalist stance in the face of tensions with India.