On April 22, 2025, a terror attack in Pahalgam left 26 people dead – tourists whose only crime was seeking the serene beauty of Kashmir. The world watched in horror. India pointed the finger squarely at Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group with a well-documented past of Pakistani patronage. Islamabad, as expected, denied involvement. But this time, the denials came with a twist.

In an unusual move, two senior Pakistani leaders—former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif—admitted to Pakistan’s historical ties to extremist groups. Bhutto spoke of “lessons learned." Asif went further, calling it “dirty work" Pakistan did for the West. These confessions, while seemingly candid, demand closer scrutiny. Because what they truly reveal is not remorse—but strategy.

At first glance, Bhutto’s statement to Sky News appears refreshing—a rare admission of state complicity in fostering extremism. But dig deeper, and you’ll find a carefully calibrated tone. By couching Pakistan’s involvement in the past tense and citing internal reform, Bhutto attempts to draw a line between “then" and “now." It’s a classic reputational facelift—crafted not for India, but for international consumption.

Bhutto’s emphasis on victimhood—Pakistan as........

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