Operation Sindoor: Pakistan Minister’s ‘no terror camps’ claim fact-checked on air after India strikes

Shortly after India’s military action on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, its Information Minister Attaullah Tarar faced tough questions in an interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim. She fact-checked him with Pakistan’s history of supporting terror groups.Tarar denied the existence of terrorist camps in the country, claiming Pakistan was a victim of terrorism. He alleged the Indian ministry targeted civilian areas, a claim Hakim dismissed with facts.

“The Indian armed forces have said that they only targeted terrorist camps

and not Pakistani military facilities,” said the anchor.
Tarar said, “Let me make it very clear, there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism. We are fighting terrorism on our western borders. We are the frontline state against terrorism. We have laid down 90,000 lives in this war against terrorism.”
“India, on the other hand, when we had the Jafar Express hijacking, India did not even condemn it, let alone express any concern about the incident,” he continued. But Hakim countered with statements from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who admitted to sponsoring terrorism for the United States for three decades.“On my programme, just a week ago, your Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted that Pakistan has for decades had a policy of funding, backing and using terrorist groups as proxies in the country (India). In fact, in 2018, President Donald Trump cut military aid to Pakistan because he accused Pakistan of playing a double game,” she said.

“So, when you say there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan, that is going against what General Parvez Musharraf has said, what Benazir Bhutto has said, what your Defence Minister has said just a week ago. In fact, Bilawal Bhutto told me a few days ago that funding and backing terrorist organisations have been and are part of Pakistan’s history,” Hakim added.

While struggling to respond, Tarar further said, “Post 9/11 was the frontline state in eliminating terrorism.” He then invited Hakim to visit the country.

She once again reminded him that Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attack, was gunned down by the US military in 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan. “I have been to Pakistan, and we know that Osama Bin Laden was discovered in Abbottabad in Pakistan,” she continued.

Early Wednesday, Indian armed forces carried out strikes at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 individuals.