Pakistan is confronting an escalating wave of terrorism that poses grave threats to its national security, internal stability, and social cohesion. This is not a series of isolated incidents or random acts of violence. It is a deliberate, well-planned, and externally sponsored war designed to weaken Pakistan, undermine public trust in state institutions, and plunge the nation into fear, despair, and chaos.
It is no longer possible to ignore the reality that terrorism across Pakistan is being fueled by hostile designs originating from Afghanistan and India. Through calculated strategies, covert networks, and local facilitators operating within Pakistan, these forces are giving practical shape to a dangerous proxy war. Afghanistan, a country that benefited for decades from Pakistan’s hospitality, cooperation, and sacrifices, today stands aligned with India, enabling and emboldening anti-Pakistan terrorist elements. The use of Afghan soil against Pakistan has become an undeniable and bitter truth.
Repeated and credible evidence has surfaced confirming the presence of terrorist hideouts, training camps, and operational planning centers inside Afghanistan. From these sanctuaries, attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces are orchestrated. This situation not only casts a dark shadow over bilateral relations but also poses a serious threat to peace and stability across the entire region.
Equally alarming is the role of local facilitators. These elements provide terrorists with shelter, intelligence, logistics, and ideological support, acting as enablers of violence from within. Of deep concern are growing allegations that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has shown reluctance or ambiguity in taking decisive action against such elements. If this perception holds any truth, it represents an extremely dangerous precedent, as state-level hesitation or leniency only strengthens terrorist resolve and morale.
Afghanistan’s transformation into a haven for terrorist groups is not a mere accusation; it is corroborated by ground realities. Cross-border infiltration, supply of modern weaponry, financial assistance, and coordinated communication networks clearly demonstrate that terrorism in Pakistan is not a spontaneous internal issue, but part of a structured proxy war. India remains a central actor in this strategy, seeking to destabilize Pakistan by exploiting Afghan territory.
India’s hostile posture toward Pakistan is neither new nor accidental. Since the very inception of Pakistan, India has pursued policies aimed at keeping the country internally destabilized. Following 2022, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in terrorist violence. In 2025 alone, more than 600 Pakistani soldiers and police officers embraced martyrdom while combating terrorism, with most casualties occurring in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan—regions bordering Afghanistan. Banned outfits such as the TTP and Baloch militant groups, backed by Indian and Afghan support according to available evidence, continue to wage war against Pakistan’s security.
Pakistan made sincere efforts to resolve matters through dialogue with Afghanistan. Tragically, even during negotiations, threats of proxy war and terrorist targeting of Islamabad allegedly emerged from Afghan Taliban circles. Despite facilitation by brotherly Islamic nations such as Türkiye and Qatar, duplicity persisted. At a time when Afghanistan sought negotiations with Pakistan, its foreign minister was simultaneously engaging India, while terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil continued unabated. India, Pakistan’s sworn adversary, remains deeply invested in this dangerous alignment.
The notion that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” appears to have shaped Kabul’s approach during periods of tension with Pakistan. Indian assurances of military and financial support to Afghan authorities visibly influenced negotiation outcomes. Facts clearly indicate that India, driven by deep-seated hostility, is using Afghanistan as a staging ground to pursue its agenda against Pakistan.
Under these circumstances, further negotiations with Kabul, without meaningful change on the ground, risk becoming futile. Pakistan possesses the full capacity to respond to this coordinated threat. The leadership in both India and Afghanistan must realize that decisions driven by vengeance and anger inevitably lead to greater instability and consequences.
Globally, Afghanistan’s governing credibility remains deeply questionable. Its isolation from international recognition and persistent governance failures have made it a source of concern not only for neighbors but for the wider world. Pakistan, by contrast, maintains diplomatic relations globally, stands as the world’s seventh nuclear power, and the only nuclear state in the Islamic world, with armed forces whose professionalism is internationally acknowledged. After prolonged patience and repeated diplomatic efforts, Pakistan’s restraint is wearing thin, a reality recognized even by friendly mediators who have witnessed Taliban intransigence firsthand.
Meanwhile, India’s direct involvement in destabilizing Balochistan is no longer hidden. The exposure of RAW networks, recruitment of local agents, support for separatist militants, and orchestrated terrorist activities stand proven before the world. Figures such as Kulbhushan Jadhav remain irrefutable evidence of India’s systematic campaign to fuel unrest. Terrorism in Balochistan is aimed not only at human lives, but at halting development, sabotaging CPEC, and weakening Pakistan’s economy.
In this decisive phase of the war against terrorism, the role of the federal and provincial governments is critical. Without a clear policy, an unambiguous stance, and indiscriminate action, this menace cannot be eliminated. Political expediency, vote-bank considerations, or temporary gains through appeasement of extremist elements directly undermine national interest. Terrorism, regardless of its label or justification, remains terrorism and must be treated as such.
The role of the nation itself is equally vital. Victory is impossible unless the public collectively rejects terrorism, challenges its ideological narratives, and remains vigilant against suspicious elements. Terrorists do not only kill with bombs and guns; they poison minds, spreading hatred, intolerance, and violence that corrode society from within. A comprehensive ideological, educational, and social struggle against these narratives is essential.
On the diplomatic front, Pakistan must adopt a more proactive and assertive approach. Concrete evidence of Indian and Afghan involvement must be presented forcefully before the international community. Statements alone are insufficient. Real action, sustained engagement at global forums, and coordination with friendly states are imperative. Pakistan has made immense sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism. The time has come for the world to acknowledge this reality and stand with Pakistan’s legitimate position.
This war is difficult, but it is not unwinnable. Success demands unity of the state, government, institutions, and people. There must be no ambiguity, no leniency, and no compromise on terrorism. Whether the enemy operates across the border or hides among us, it must be confronted decisively. Our survival, sovereignty, and the security of future generations depend on the choices made today. If we act wisely and firmly now, history will remember Pakistan as a resilient, dignified, and strong nation. Failure will leave only regret.
