US-Pak axis triggered surge in Kashmir violence through the 1990s

This analysis is part of the Worldly-Wise programme by The Federal's Managing Editor KS Dakshina Murthy that decodes complex international developments.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif recently made a stunning admission: his country did "dirty work" for the US and Britain by training and funding terrorist organisations. Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto echoed this, calling Pakistan's extremist ties an "open secret."

While many in India see this as confirmation of Pakistan's role in Kashmir terrorism, the deeper story reveals how America's Cold War strategy created Pakistan's radicalisation.

The Faustian Bargain

Since 1947, Pakistan became increasingly dependent on US support. During the 1971 war, America openly backed Pakistan against India, even mobilising the 7th Fleet before Bangladesh's liberation.

But the real transformation came in 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Desperate to counter Moscow, the US funnelled $32 billion through Pakistan to create the Afghan Mujahideen.

Also Read: Pakistan defence minister admits terror ties, warns of 'all-out war' with India

"The US would funnel funds and weaponry to Pakistan through the Saudis," the analysis notes.

This turned Pakistan's border regions into training grounds for jihadists. Over 2 million Afghan refugees, deeply religious and anti-communist, further Islamised Pakistani society.

Blowback Effect

When the Soviets withdrew in 1989, Pakistan's ISI redirected these battle-hardened militants to Kashmir.

"The exit of the Soviets from Afghanistan coincides with an upsurge of violence in Kashmir in 1989," the report states.

Also Read: After defence minister, Bilawal Bhutto admits to Pakistan’s ties with terror

The Kargil War (1999) and persistent Kashmir conflict stem from this period.

Internally, Pakistan paid a heavy price. Military ruler Zia-ul-Haq's Islamisation policies, combined with the Mujahideen's influence, radicalised institutions. Even after 9/11, when America demanded Pakistan crack down on extremists, leaders like Musharraf faced assassination attempts for trying to reform blasphemy laws or madrasas.

The Unbreakable Cycle

Today, Pakistan blames America for its extremism problem while ignoring its own choices.

As the analysis concludes: "What they overlook is that Pakistan had no choice, particularly after its breakup in 1971."

Also Read: Want peace? Come with open hands, not clenched fists : Bilawal Bhutto

The $32 billion-alliance created a monster that continues to haunt both Pakistan and its neighbours.

(The content above has been generated using a fine-tuned AI model. To ensure accuracy, quality, and editorial integrity, we employ a Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) process. While AI assists in creating the initial draft, our experienced editorial team carefully reviews, edits, and refines the content before publication. At The Federal, we combine the efficiency of AI with the expertise of human editors to deliver reliable and insightful journalism.)