A First: US, Bilawal Bhutto Come Close To Admitting Pak Fosters Terror Against India

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – For the first time in recent memory, both U.S. and Pakistani officials are openly acknowledging Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism against India. This shift follows the deadly April 22 attack in India-administered Kashmir that left 26 dead, sparking fresh concerns over cross-border militancy.

Speaking on May 1, U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed hope that Pakistan would cooperate with India in targeting Pakistan-based militants and emphasized that India’s response should not escalate into a broader conflict.

“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance told Fox News. “And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.”

Vance’s comments mark one of the most direct acknowledgments from a senior U.S. official linking Pakistan to terrorist activities against India since the Kashmir attack. While top American leaders, including President Donald Trump, have voiced support for India, they have largely avoided pointing fingers at Islamabad—until now, pointed out Reuters.

The remarks come amid increased diplomatic engagement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate calls on April 30 with Indian Foreign Minister S.Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials themselves are making rare admissions about the country’s troubled history with terrorism. Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, in an interview with Sky News on May 1, conceded that Pakistan has long had ties to extremist groups.

“As far as what the defense minister said, I don’t think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past,” Bhutto said. “As a result, we have suffered. Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism… We also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem.”

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif went further in a now-viral interview with the same outlet, admitting Pakistan’s decades-long involvement in backing and funding terrorist organizations—often in collaboration with Western powers.

“We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades… and the West, including Britain,” Asif said. “That was a mistake, and we suffered for that… 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.”

The recent string of statements—from both American and Pakistani leaders—suggests a new, more candid chapter in regional diplomacy, as long-standing truths about Pakistan’s role in regional militancy begin to be publicly confronted.