Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman admitted that Islamabad’s past is linked to terrorism but avoided direct answers regarding al-Qaeda-linked Brigade 313. In an interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim, Rehman responded to questions about Pakistan’s history of harboring extremist elements.
“You keep on talking about the past because it was,” she said. “We are fighting terrorism. Pakistan is a changed country now.”
Brigade 313: Pakistan’s Al-Qaeda Connection
Hakim cited Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC) reports, stating that Brigade 313 is a Pakistan-based terror outfit tied to al-Qaeda. The group reportedly includes members from the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.
“Brigade 313 is al-Qaeda in Pakistan,” Hakim said, describing it as a hub for terrorism focused on attacks in Kashmir.
Hakim pressed Rehman on whether Pakistan should be held accountable for terror attacks in India, particularly those linked to Brigade 313. Rehman dismissed the question, stating, “Am I going to war every time there is an attack in India?” She further added, “A hundred insurgencies are running in India. Are we responsible for what goes on there?”
Pakistan’s FATF Grey List History
The conversation also touched on Pakistan’s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list until 2022. Hakim questioned whether individuals like Sajid Mir, a key plotter of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, played a role in delaying Pakistan’s removal from the list.
‘Pakistan is fighting very hard to clean its terrorist record’
Vice President of the Pakistan People’s Party Senator Sherry Rehman tells @SkyYaldaHakim ‘Pakistan is a changed country’, even though they were taken off the grey list in 2022https://t.co/1GOylJEIzn pic.twitter.com/Y7ei3Wbo9h
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 9, 2025
Rehman responded, “You’re citing a long history of engaging with terrorism one way or the other, either fighting it or otherwise.”
What Is Brigade 313?
Brigade 313 was formed in the early 2000s, reportedly named after the 313 companions of Prophet Muhammad who fought in the Battle of Badr. The group was led by Ilyas Kashmiri, a former Pakistani army-trained fighter who became one of al-Qaeda’s top commanders before he died in a 2011 US drone strike.
The brigade is a hybrid coalition, drawing terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), and Jaish-e-Mohammed. It operated under al-Qaeda’s umbrella and frequently collaborated with Pakistan’s Taliban factions.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted that the country had supported terror groups for decades. He stated, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, and the West, including Britain.”
