An emerging pattern of violence, in recently carried terror attacks in Pakistan, points to a loose but dangerous alignment involving India, Israel, and the Afghan Taliban, alongside their supported militant proxies. While the operational incompetence and poor execution of these groups has often worked to Pakistan’s advantage by exposing their hand, the tragic cost is borne by innocent civilians, particularly children, whose lives are being lost to reckless and indiscriminate attacks.
In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of quadcopters and drones in terrorist attacks. These groups have gained access to modern technology but lack the technical expertise to deploy it with precision. As a result, explosive payloads intended for security forces, government installations, or military targets frequently end up falling on civilian neighbourhoods. The consequences have been devastating, with repeated incidents of civilian casualties, including women and children.
One notable exception occurred in Bannu’s Sheikh Landik area, where children playing cricket were targeted. Security sources say this was not a misfire but a deliberate act of revenge against the local Takhti Khel tribes, who had days earlier killed seven militants and forced others to flee the area. Even in such cases, however, the attackers have attempted to deflect responsibility, accusing Pakistan’s security forces of carrying out the strike. Despite repeated efforts, none of these narratives have withstood scrutiny.
Weaponising Technology and Narratives
Beyond the physical attacks lies a more calculated information war. A coordinated disinformation campaign accompanies these incidents, aiming to falsely malign Pakistan’s security forces. Networks operating from Afghanistan and other locations rapidly activate media outlets and social media accounts linked to India’s intelligence agency RAW, pushing unverified claims and assigning blame to Pakistani institutions within hours of any explosion.
Recent incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu, North Waziristan, Kurram, and South Waziristan, as well as in Awaran district of Balochistan, follow a similar pattern. The objective is twofold, to inflict physical harm and to damage Pakistan’s reputation by shaping national and international opinion against its security apparatus. The Delhi Metro gas cylinder explosion is cited by analysts as a recent example of how unrelated incidents are folded into broader narrative manipulation campaigns.
Yet these efforts have repeatedly backfired. The very clumsiness of the attacks and the speed with which blame is assigned have helped expose the actors behind the propaganda. Alongside India and Israel, banned outfits such as the banned TTP and allied terrorist groups have found themselves increasingly isolated, while the interim rulers of a neighboring country, often described as a brotherly Islamic state, face growing questions about their tolerance or facilitation of such elements.
The irony has deepened with militants themselves releasing drone operation footage on social media. Designated by the State of Pakistan as Khawarij, these groups have effectively provided self incriminating evidence. For investigators and analysts, there could hardly be a clearer admission of culpability.
For Pakistan’s diverse communities and minorities, these propaganda drives have had little effect on ground realities. The people, especially the resilient tribes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan who have suffered most from externally sponsored terrorism, recognise these tactics for what they are. They have seen the faces behind the conspiracies, understand their methods, and know how to resist them. This is not a rhetorical claim but a lived reality, one reinforced by history and likely to be reaffirmed in the years ahead.
