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.