Pakistan's credibility on the global stage is under severe scrutiny once again, as growing evidence and expert analyses point to a disturbing pattern terrorism being used not just as a domestic issue but as a strategic instrument of its foreign policy. The recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 Indian civilians dead, has only reinforced long-standing allegations against Islamabad. India, backed by intelligence assessments and global counterterrorism reports, accuses Pakistan of sheltering, funding, and directing terror groups that operate across the Line of Control (LoC).

From Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to more recent proxies like The Resistance Front, these groups are widely believed to function with tacit, if not explicit, support from Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex. While Pakistani authorities continue to deny such links, past statements by their own leadership have inadvertently exposed the state’s long history of exploiting militant outfits as geopolitical tools.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan once admitted publicly that the Pakistani state had trained and funded Mujahideen fighters in the past. Recently, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, ex-Foreign Minister and son of slain leader Benazir Bhutto, acknowledged Pakistan’s “past” with terror financing remarks that critics interpret as a rare confession of the country’s long-standing dual strategy: preach peace, sponsor conflict.

International experts argue that this duplicity has significantly damaged Pakistan’s image. “No nation can credibly call for regional peace while offering safe havens to terrorists,” said Richard Kemp, a former British Army commander. “Pakistan’s global reputation has been corroded by decades of denial and deflection.” The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had already placed Pakistan on its "grey list" for years due to inadequate efforts to curb terror financing. Though Islamabad was recently removed from the list after promises of reforms, recurring cross-border attacks and statements glorifying terrorists have reignited global concerns.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has consistently highlighted this issue at global forums, including the United Nations. “The world must recognize that terrorism remains central to Pakistan’s strategic calculus,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi following the Pahalgam attack. “This is not just India’s problem it is a threat to global peace.” Even Pakistan’s allies are treading carefully. Beijing, while still a close strategic partner, has shown unease over growing instability in Pakistan and its fallout on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Gulf nations, once staunch supporters, are increasingly aligning with India due to its economic potential and stable global outlook.

Within Pakistan, cracks are beginning to show. Civil society voices, independent journalists, and young citizens have started questioning the military’s iron grip on foreign and internal policy. "Why must we be known as a terror-exporting nation?" asked a Lahore-based university professor in a recent op-ed. “We need to rebuild from within, not project violence abroad.”

As Pakistan grapples with a collapsing economy, soaring inflation, and political turmoil, its reliance on terror proxies to settle regional scores only deepens its isolation. Unless decisive steps are taken to dismantle these networks and recalibrate its foreign policy, Islamabad risks becoming an international pariah in an increasingly intolerant world order. India, in contrast, has emerged as a responsible global stakeholder backed by its democratic values, economic strength, and zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. The contrast could not be starker.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from India TV News. 

In the midst of escalating India-Pakistan tensions, US Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to India earlier this week may have seemed like a minor event, but it reinforced the evolving dynamics of the India-US relationship. While the visit itself was largely private, its significance was highlighted through public engagements that showcased the dual approach of top-down diplomacy and grassroots people-to-people interactions. However, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam underscored the reality that the US continues to play a key role in influencing the course of India-Pakistan relations.

America's Stance on Pakistan: The timing of the Kashmir attack during Vance’s visit was no accident. Pakistan, seeking to maintain relevance on the global stage despite its diminishing influence, aimed to remind Washington of Kashmir’s importance. Despite Pakistan’s protests over India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, the international community, including the US, largely disregarded these concerns. Under the Biden administration, US policy has focused on fostering deeper ties with India, partly driven by the shifting global power landscape. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Pakistan’s growing alliance with China have resulted in a policy shift, offering humanitarian and economic support to Pakistan but avoiding significant military engagement.

Washington's Distance from the India-Pakistan Dispute: For some time, Washington has refrained from involving itself in the India-Pakistan conflict. The Trump administration, in particular, pulled back from global commitments, focusing instead on national priorities. In 2019, President Trump had offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute at India’s request, a claim that India firmly denied. Since then, Kashmir has rarely been discussed in US-India dialogues. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year, the joint statement called on Pakistan to take strong action against terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, urging the country to bring justice to those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot attacks. Pakistan’s response was one of defiance, labeling the joint statement as "misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms."

Pakistan’s Global Isolation: Pakistan’s diminishing influence in global strategy is a result of both its internal struggles and India’s successful international campaign to label it a state sponsor of terrorism. With a faltering economy, widespread social unrest, and increasing regional instability, Pakistan’s international partnerships are shrinking. Even China seems less inclined to support Pakistan, recognizing the latter’s economic troubles. The recent terror attacks in India can be seen as an attempt by Pakistan to capture Washington’s attention.

Vance, during his speech in India, emphasized the transformative potential of an India-US partnership, suggesting that if the two countries succeed in their collaboration, the 21st century could be marked by prosperity and peace. He praised Prime Minister Modi, signaling the US’s strategic partnership with India. This contrasted with his other speeches, where he had been critical of European leaders and others, including Zelensky. The terror attacks serve as a reminder of Pakistan’s continued reliance on desperate measures to provoke attention, but increasingly, such actions are leading to backlash against Pakistan. s the US deepens its engagement with India, the inability of Pakistan’s military-industrial complex to grasp this shift will likely lead to repeated mistakes. The future of India-Pakistan relations appears to be influenced less by Pakistan’s actions and more by the evolving nature of the US-India partnership.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, calling it a direct assault on the Indian state. He emphasized that in this critical moment, the entire nation stands united with the government in the fight against terrorism.

Kharge expressed deep sorrow over the attack, which targeted innocent tourists in Jammu-Kashmir around 2:30 PM. He strongly condemned the cowardly act and those responsible for it. "This attack is a direct assault on the unity and integrity of our nation," Kharge said, describing it as one of the most audacious acts of terrorism since the Chittisinghpura massacre in 2000.

Kharge mentioned that he had spoken with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to gather information about the incident. Shah informed him that decisive action would be taken in the affected area. The Congress Working Committee is set to meet on April 24 in New Delhi to discuss the attack.

Stressing that this is not the time for partisan politics, Kharge called for collective action to ensure justice for the victims and their families. "We must stand united with the government to fight against terrorism and protect the country's unity and integrity," he said. Kharge further urged the government to use all its resources to track down the terrorists, emphasizing the need to restore tourists' confidence in Jammu and Kashmir's security arrangements.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.

Former Congress MLA Sangram Thopte officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, accompanied by his supporters from Bhor taluka in Pune district. He was welcomed into the party by Maharashtra BJP President and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with working president Ravindra Chavan.

Thopte, who previously served as the MLA for Bhor constituency three times, lost the 2024 assembly election to NCP candidate Shankar Mandekar. Coming from a family with deep roots in the Congress party, Thopte is the son of veteran Congress leader Anantrao Thopte, who represented Bhor six times and had a longstanding rivalry with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Thopte had resigned from the Congress last week. During the induction ceremony, he expressed his disappointment with the party, stating, “I was a committed Congressman and worked diligently for the party and the Maha Vikas Aghadi, but my efforts and loyalty were never acknowledged.” He added that both he and his father had dedicated themselves to promoting Congress ideology at the grassroots level, but the lack of recognition ultimately pushed him to leave.

Explaining his decision to join the BJP, Thopte said he was drawn to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He emphasized that although he had known Fadnavis for years, he never leveraged that connection for political gain. Now, he sees the BJP as the right platform to continue his political journey, calling it the country’s largest and most effective political force.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X@SangramThopate.

With Reform UK hitting record levels in the polls, Nigel Farage’s success in the local elections is increasingly seen as a major turning point in UK politics. As Conservative support plummets and Keir Starmer’s government faces serious challenges, questions arise about whether mainstream parties can recover. John Harris discusses this potential political upheaval with Guardian columnists Gaby Hinsliff and Polly Toynbee.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

To mark 100 days in office, Donald Trump gave an interview to Time's Eric Cortellessa, who later shared what he learned with Jonathan Freedland in a detailed conversation about the president’s reflections and leadership style.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey explore whether Nigel Farage can turn Reform UK’s growing poll numbers into actual votes as local elections approach this week. They also examine how the two main parties will perform in the first major electoral challenge for both Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch since the general election.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

The U.S. Department of Justice denies firing former pardon attorney Liz Oyer for refusing to recommend the restoration of Mel Gibson’s gun rights. However, Oyer shares a different account with Jonathan Freedland, suggesting it reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to undermine the rule of law in America.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.