Pakistan's biggest export is terrorism, says Laura Loomer; apologises for anti-India posts
New Delhi, March 14
American far-Right activist and staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, Laura Loomer, sparked debate during her appearance at the India Today Conclave 2026 on Saturday for sharply criticising Pakistan and apologising for some of her past anti-India social media posts.
Speaking at the conclave in New Delhi, Loomer warned the US against strengthening ties with Pakistan, alleging that the country was linked to global terrorism.
"Pakistan's biggest export to the world is Islamic terrorism, and I don't believe the US should be cosying up to the Pakistani government at all," she said.
Loomer further accused Pakistan of supporting extremist networks and claimed that several global terror incidents had links to the country.
"Pakistan operates as an openly jihadist and pro-Sharia state, and when you look at many of the Islamist terror attacks around the world, there is often some connection back to Pakistan," she added.
Referring to a recent case in the US, Loomer cited the conviction of a Pakistani national, Asif Merchant, who was accused of plotting to assassinate President Trump and other senior American politicians.
According to investigators, Merchant allegedly attempted to recruit individuals in the US to target President Trump, reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
"The incident makes one thing clear. All of the terrorism, for the most part, is largely coming from Pakistan," Loomer said.
During the same event, Loomer also addressed criticism over several past posts she made on the social media platform 'X' that contained offensive and derogatory remarks about Indians. The posts resurfaced online after she arrived in India for the conclave, triggering widespread backlash.
When questioned about the controversy, Loomer acknowledged that some of her comments were inappropriate.
"I should not have said some of the things I wrote in the other tweets," she admitted.
However, she made it clear that she stood by her criticism of the H-1B visa programme in the United States. "I am not going to apologise for opposing the H-1B visa programme, because my job is to stand up for American interests. Our immigration and labour laws have been exploited and abused. I will continue to fight for American workers who are struggling to find employment," she said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Her apology feels a bit convenient now that she's in India. But her criticism of Pakistan's terror links is spot on. The evidence is there for anyone to see, from 26/11 to Pulwama.
Interesting to see a far-right Western figure echo what our security experts have always said. But let's not forget she still holds anti-immigration views that hurt Indian professionals on H-1B. We can agree on one issue and disagree on another.
As an American living in India, I find her views a mixed bag. She's right about Pakistan's record, but her stance on H-1B is problematic. Indian tech workers contribute massively to the US economy. It's not exploitation, it's talent exchange.
The truth hurts. Pakistan has been the epicenter of global jihad for years. Good that someone on the international stage is saying it bluntly. Hope the US policy makers are listening.
We should be careful about embracing such figures just because they criticize our neighbor. Her ideology is divisive and her apology seems strategic. Our foreign policy should be based on principles, not temporary alliances with controversial people.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.