New Delhi, April 30: Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif’s admission on country’s role in harbouring terrorists and sponsoring terror factories on its soil recently, came not just as a shocker but also exposed its brazen terror designs as well as terror trail, that remains not just limited to Kashmir but goes beyond many frontiers, even to the Islamic nations, Middle-East and Europe.

Pakistan’s terror footprints across the globe got more accentuated with Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s open confession on the country’s history of supporting terrorist organisations, as he said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades, including the West and the UK.”

The bloodbath in Kashmir’s Pahalgam is the latest dastardly act of terror, conducted by Pakistan-based terrorists, plotted and guided by handlers based there. A key Pakistan link is emerging here also, as Hashim Moosa, who served in the Pakistan Army earlier, has been found to be one of the key attackers in Baisaran valley. A massive manhunt is underway to nab Moosa, the former para commando in Pakistan’s Special Services Group, who then switched to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to conduct terror strikes in India.

For many years, Pakistan has used its soil as a launchpad for cross-border terrorism, insurgency, and extremist ideology. Its track record in sponsoring, sheltering, and exporting terrorism is one of the most dangerous and destabilising forces in the world.

In 2018, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also admitted to the Pakistani government’s role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba. Former Pak Army General Pervez Musharraf had also conceded that his forces trained militant groups to fight India in Kashmir.

An account of how Pakistan is exporting terrorism globally

Afghanistan: Taliban and Haqqani network attacks

Pak-based terror groups were found to be the key conspirators behind numerous deadly attacks on Afghan civilians, government targets and international forces, including the 2008 Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul and the 2011 attack on the US Embassy in Kabul.

Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) has been widely documented as supporting the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network, providing them with funding, training, and safe havens.

Its role in the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul was also documented in a book by senior journalist Carlotta Gall, who wrote, “The embassy bombing was no operation by rogue ISI agents acting on their own. It was sanctioned and monitored by the most senior officials in Pakistani intelligence.”

Iran: Jaish ul-Adl Attacks

Pakistan-based Sunni extremist group Jaish ul-Adl repeatedly attacked Iranian security forces in Sistan and Baluchestan province. In response, Iran carried out missile and drone strikes inside Pakistan’s Balochistan province, targeting what it described as Jaish ul-Adl hideouts.

Iran has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring and failing to act against Sunni militants who stage attacks across the border.

Moscow Concert Hall Attack (2024)

In April, a Pakistan link emerged in the investigation of the Moscow terror attack. Russian authorities identified the mastermind as a Tajik national and are probing connections to Pakistan, with reports suggesting that the attackers may have had logistical or ideological support tracing back to Pakistani networks.

United Kingdom: 2005 London Bombings

The July 7 London bombings, carried out by four British Islamist terrorists, were linked to training and indoctrination in Pakistan. Three of the bombers — Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, and Germaine Lindsay had spent time in Pakistan between 2003 and 2005, getting trained in terror-training centres.

Osama bin Laden’s elimination exposed Pakistan globally

In the 2011 US raids that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan’s Abbottabad, it exposed Pakistan’s brazen defence of the dreaded terrorists and also exposed its systemic failure in counterterrorism efforts.

Bin Laden lived undetected for years in a compound near Pakistan’s Military Academy, affirming the Pakistan government’s protection and alleged collusion.

Amethi, April 30: BJP workers on Wednesday burnt an effigy of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, as he arrived in Amethi. The effigy was burnt outside a guest house near Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

Police were deployed in large numbers and managed to pacify the agitators before Gandhi’s arrival.

Rahul Gandhi reached Amethi on a one-day visit to inaugurate the open-heart surgery operation theatre at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, which is managed by the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust. Gandhi, a trustee of the hospital, was greeted by hundreds of supporters with garlands in Jais town during a brief stop.

On Tuesday, Gandhi visited his Raebareli constituency. He chaired a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at Bachat Bhawan, where he reviewed development projects and discussed plans with officials from 78 departments.

During the visit, Gandhi also inaugurated a solar power and EV charging facility, unveiled a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Bachhrawan, and distributed 15 hand carts to needy residents. He also visited the rail coach factory in Lalganj and addressed party workers in the Sareni Assembly segment.

A political row also erupted in Raebareli after the BJP Yuva Morcha leaders put up posters targeting Gandhi over his push for a caste census. The posters, seen in Harchandpur, read: “You would divide using casteism, we will unite using nationalism. Please spare our Raebareli of caste-based politics.”

Rahul Gandhi won the 2024 Raebareli Lok Sabha seat by defeating BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh with a margin of 3.9 lakh votes and a 66.17 per cent vote share, reclaiming the Congress stronghold once held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi.

Gandhi, who won from Raebareli seat, held for a long time by his mother and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Jammu, April 30: After resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the Line of Control (LoC) consecutively for the last six days, Pakistani troops on Wednesday initiated unprovoked firing on the International Border (IB) in the Jammu district.

The Defence ministry spokesman said, “Further to the previous update about 29-30 April (Night), unprovoked small arms firing by Pakistan Army was also reported from their posts across the LoC in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, as well as across the International Border in the Pargwal Sector.”

“Indian Army troops responded appropriately,” the spokesman said.

The Pakistan Army had already initiated unprovoked firing on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday for the sixth consecutive day as the Indian Army responded swiftly and proportionately.

The Defence Ministry spokesman said earlier today, “During the night of 29-30 April 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the LoC opposite the Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.”

“Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately,” the spokesman said.

During April 28-29, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara and Baramulla districts, as well as the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.

The officials said the Indian Army responded to the provocation in a measured and effective manner.

Tensions have mounted between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The entire country was outraged by the cowardly act of terrorists, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his first reaction to Pahalgam killings that the terrorists, their handlers and backers would he chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

PM Modi has given a free hand to the armed forces to decide on the timing, targets and the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The statement came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Services, and the three chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force had a meeting with the PM.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar a few days ago.

The L-G asked the Army to use whatever force is required to hunt down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, to send a powerful message to terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers, security forces continue to demolish the houses of terrorists.

Security forces have so far demolished the houses of 10 terrorists, who are reportedly still active in the Kashmir Valley.

On Monday, the J&K Assembly unanimously condemned the dastardly terrorist attack and passed a resolution on this.