Pakistan’s deep ties to terrorist groups, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), fuel cross-border violence, notably in India and Afghanistan. The issue resurfaced prominently after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, killing 26 tourists. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military are accused of supporting groups like LeT, JeM, and the Haqqani Network.
In This Article:
Through funding, training, and safe havens, Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex orchestrates proxy wars, as evidenced by the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) findings. Terror camps operate in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Waziristan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The Pahalgam Attack and ISI’s Role
The April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26, mostly tourists, exposed Pakistan’s terror nexus. The NIA’s preliminary report linked the attack to LeT, operating under ISI directives, with Pakistani nationals Hashmi Musa and Ali Bhai executing the plan. The attackers, aided by Over Ground Workers (OGWs), conducted reconnaissance in Baisaran Valley, exploiting thin security. Evidence, including satellite phone activity and 40 cartridges, confirmed ISI’s logistical support. India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, killing over 100 operatives, including IC-814 hijack and Pulwama attack plotters. Images of Pakistani military personnel at terrorists’ funerals, draped in national flags, debunked Pakistan’s civilian casualty claims.
A History of State-Sponsored Terrorism
Pakistan’s terror links trace back to the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War, when the ISI, with U.S. backing, trained mujahideen, fostering groups like LeT and JeM. LeT, led by Hafiz Saeed, and JeM, under Masood Azhar, operate from fortified bases in Punjab and PoK, with JeM’s Balakot camp rebuilt post-2019 Indian airstrikes. The Haqqani Network, led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, serves as an ISI proxy in Afghanistan, while ISIS-K operates in tribal areas. Former leaders like Nawaz Sharif (2018) and Pervez Musharraf admitted state support for Kashmir-focused militants, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently acknowledging three decades of terror backing.
Global and Regional Fallout
Pakistan’s terror nexus destabilizes South Asia and beyond. The 2008 Mumbai attacks, 2016 Dhaka cafe attack, and 2008 Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul highlight its reach. The U.S. State Department’s 2019 report labeled Pakistan a “safe haven” for LeT and JeM, despite modest counter-terror steps. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) removed Pakistan from its gray list in 2022, but critics argue this ignored ongoing terror financing via hawala and extortion. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in a May 2025 interview, called terrorism an “open business” in Pakistan, financed by the state.
Challenges and International Response
Pakistan’s dual policy—curtailing some groups while shielding others—complicates global counter-terrorism. The ISI’s “S-Wing” provides strategic support, with ex-military personnel training operatives. The U.S., despite cutting aid in 2018, relies on Pakistan for Afghan operations, creating a paradox. India’s all-party delegations in May 2025 secured support from 33 nations, isolating Pakistan diplomatically. With 41 active terror groups and porous Afghan borders, Pakistan’s $126 billion economic losses since 2001 underscore the crisis’s toll. Breaking this nexus requires global pressure and internal reforms to curb the military’s grip.
-By Manoj H
