• Source:JND
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Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reignited regional diplomatic tensions again with strong statements attributing the increase in terrorism in Pakistan to the United States. In his speech while visiting Washington, Zardari indicated that Pakistan is suffering because of America's hasty exit and the weapons it abandoned in Afghanistan. He even alleged, left behind US military equipment has now fallen into the hands of terrorist groups."We talk about terror, we talk about Afghanistan, we talk about other things. That's what we've spent the last couple of decades of this relationship discussing about," he said, underlining that these themes continue to dominate Pakistan's engagement with the United States.

Zardari further argued that the consequences of US withdrawal have adversely affected Pakistan's internal security. "We need more cooperation, regional, international, on what are we going to do now that post-Kabul to deal with the remnants, with the terrorism that's left over. As far as the weapons are concerned, you'd be astonished to hear, sometimes when we're fighting these terrorist groups within Pakistani territory, the weapons that they have procured for the black market that were left behind in Afghanistan are more advanced than the policemen that they're fighting against have," he said. The former Foreign Minister refrained from directly referring to the Taliban-ruled Afghan regime but hinted that residual US military equipment now ends up in the hands of terror outfits sponsored against Pakistan based across the border.

Islamabad Faces Pushback From Kabul And Analysts

While Kabul is yet to officially respond to Zardari’s allegations, past reactions from the Islamic Emirate have warned Islamabad against inflaming tensions. Afghan political analyst Mohammad Zalmai Afghan Yar criticised Zardari’s stance, calling it “threatening” and saying it risks destabilising improved diplomatic ties. "Pakistan is threatening the countries in the region. The Afghan government has announced an economy-focused policy. Can Pakistan convey the same message to Afghanistan? Can Pakistan abandon its economic bargaining and avoid collaborating with the U.S. in creating further problems for the Afghan government?" he said. This verbal back-and-forth comes even as Islamabad and Kabul recently upgraded their diplomatic representation by appointing full ambassadors after months of strained relations.

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Bhutto Echoed Khawaja Asif's Anti-US Rhetoric?

Earlier, Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, echoed the same verse, speaking openly in interviews with local and international media. In one such interview with The Current, Asif said, “We’re paying the price today because we participated in America’s wars. Terrorism and extremist ideologies in Pakistan are rooted in our involvement in those conflicts.” Asif echoed the same anti-US rhetoric and said “left Pakistan to face the consequences” of its Afghan engagements. He further criticised the US military-industrial complex, saying, “The US has fought 260 wars. They make others fight, make money, and walk away. Nations like Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan have been devastated.”

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In another interview with Sky News, Asif confessed, "Yes, we did the dirty work for the West. We supported, trained, and funded groups in the Afghan war. It was a mistake. We're still paying for it." The minister's words have already drawn stinging international attention, particularly amid ongoing scrutiny of Pakistan’s defense preparedness and alleged links to terror outfits. The comments by Zardari and Asif are made when the security environment in Pakistan is still precarious. The timing of such statements also coincides with mounting global pressure on Pakistan to accept responsibility for its patronage of extremist groups in their region.