Pakistan’s Sacrifice vs. India’s Exploitation

The global war on terror has reshaped geopolitical dynamics, with nations either suffering devastating consequences or exploiting the chaos for strategic gains. Pakistan, positioned at the epicenter of this conflict, has endured unparalleled human and economic losses, emerging as one of the most affected countries in the world. Conversely, India, under the Modi government, has weaponized misinformation, falsely accusing Pakistan of cross-border terrorism while ignoring its own atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). The stark contrast between Pakistan’s sacrifices and India’s opportunistic gains reveals a disturbing asymmetry in the global counterterrorism narrative.

Since 2001, Pakistan has been the frontline state in the fight against terrorism, suffering catastrophic human losses. Over 90,000 Pakistani civilians and security personnel have lost their lives in terrorist attacks, a staggering figure that underscores the nation’s immense sacrifice. No other country has borne such a heavy toll in the war on terror. The 2014 Army Public School (APS) Peshawar massacre, where 149 people, including 132 children, were brutally murdered by terrorists, remains one of the most horrific attacks in modern history. This tragedy, along with countless bombings in tribal regions, illustrates the relentless violence Pakistan has endured.

Beyond the human cost, Pakistan’s economy has been crippled by terrorism. Estimates suggest that the country has suffered over $150 billion in economic losses since 2001 due to disrupted trade, destroyed infrastructure, and diverted military expenditures. The financial strain has hindered development, exacerbated poverty, and forced Pakistan to allocate scarce resources toward counterterrorism rather than education, healthcare, and economic growth. Despite these challenges, Pakistan has remained steadfast in its commitment to eradicating terrorism, launching decisive military operations such as Zarb-e-Azb (2014) and Radd-ul-Fasaad (2017), which dismantled terrorist networks in North Waziristan and across the country.

While Pakistan has fought terrorism at great cost, India has engaged in a relentless propaganda campaign, baselessly accusing Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. The Modi government, aided by a compliant media apparatus, has weaponized misinformation to tarnish Pakistan’s image internationally. These accusations lack credible evidence and ignore Pakistan’s tangible counterterrorism successes. India’s narrative serves a dual purpose: diverting attention from its own human rights violations in IIOJK and justifying its aggressive militarization of the region.

India’s own record in Kashmir is marred by extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and systemic repression. The revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Kashmir of its autonomous status, was followed by a brutal military crackdown, internet blackouts, and mass arrests. By contrast, Pakistan has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions, while India continues to suppress Kashmiri voices through state-sponsored violence.

Moreover, India’s strategic alliance with Afghanistan’s former NDS and RAW-sponsored terrorist groups reveals its duplicity. Evidence suggests that India has funded and armed militant factions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to destabilize Pakistan. The arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian spy operating in Balochistan, exposed New Delhi’s covert operations aimed at fueling insurgency. Yet, despite these revelations, India continues to posture as a victim of terrorism while actively undermining regional stability.

Even amid its own struggles, Pakistan has demonstrated extraordinary humanitarian responsibility by hosting over 2.8 million Afghan refugees, the largest protracted refugee population in the world. For decades, Pakistan has provided shelter, healthcare, and education to displaced Afghans, despite limited international support. This stands in stark contrast to India’s exclusionary policies, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which discriminates against Muslim refugees.

India, meanwhile, has leveraged the war on terror to strengthen its military-industrial complex, securing lucrative arms deals with the US, Russia, and France. The Modi government has also used the terrorism narrative to justify its Hindutva-driven agenda, targeting minorities and stifling dissent under the guise of national security. The BJP’s Islamophobic rhetoric and the rise of lynch mobs targeting Muslims reveal a state increasingly defined by majoritarian extremism, ironically, the very menace India claims to fight.

The war on terror has exposed the hypocrisy of those who manipulate it for political gain. Pakistan, despite its sacrifices, remains unfairly maligned by Indian propaganda, while India escapes scrutiny for its own state-sponsored violence and subversive activities. The international community must recognize Pakistan’s contributions in dismantling terrorism and demand accountability from India for its human rights abuses in Kashmir and beyond.

Pakistan’s fight against extremism is not just a national struggle, it is a battle for regional and global security. The world must acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices, reject India’s baseless allegations, and work toward a just and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Only then can the true victims of terrorism be honored, and the real perpetrators exposed.