Pakistan has reiterated that the evolving terrorist threat in South and Central Asia must be assessed through a comprehensive regional security lens, with particular attention to the continued presence of militant networks and alleged safe havens in Afghanistan.
The position comes in the wake of a recent report titled “Understanding Islamic State Khorasan: Its Evolution, Operational Strategy and Portrayal of India,” which examines the evolution of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), its operational methods and its efforts to expand influence through propaganda, recruitment and regional networks.
According to the report, ISKP has emerged as one of the more active branches of the Islamic State, seeking to expand its influence across South Asia, particularly in Afghanistan and India, while continuing to promote the group’s objective of a transnational “caliphate” despite the territorial defeat of Islamic State in other theatres.
From Pakistan’s perspective, however, an exclusive focus on ISKP’s propaganda, recruitment and organisational expansion does not fully capture what Islamabad identifies as a central driver of regional insecurity: the continued presence of terrorist networks and alleged safe havens inside Afghanistan.
Pakistani authorities have repeatedly maintained that organisations including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISKP operate from Afghan territory and have used territory across the border to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan.
Islamabad has also maintained that the security environment deteriorated following 2021, with Pakistani officials linking the subsequent rise in terrorist incidents to what they describe as increased operational freedom and sanctuary available to anti-Pakistan militant groups across the border.
Pakistan’s assessment further points to the alleged involvement of external actors in supporting militant organisations operating against the country. According to the Pakistani position cited in the discussion surrounding the report, external hostile elements—including India—have allegedly sought to exploit Afghan territory and networks to support anti-Pakistan militant organisations, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Pakistani authorities have also alleged that India provides political, financial and logistical assistance to the BLA and other groups involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan. These allegations represent Pakistan’s official position and have been disputed by India, which rejects accusations of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
Pakistan has additionally expressed concern over developing contacts between India and the Afghan Taliban, arguing that evolving regional relationships must not result in Afghan territory being used for activities detrimental to Pakistan’s security interests.
Islamabad’s concern, according to the stated position, is not directed solely at one particular militant organisation. Rather, Pakistan argues that the regional terrorist threat should be examined across the entire spectrum of militant networks, their financing, recruitment structures, operational capabilities and cross-border support mechanisms.
Pakistan maintains that terrorism in the region cannot be understood solely through the lens of ISKP’s propaganda and recruitment activities. From Islamabad’s perspective, the continued presence of militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan, cross-border terrorism and alleged external support for organisations such as the TTP and BLA constitute interconnected security challenges that require attention as part of any sustainable regional counter-terrorism strategy.
Pakistan has therefore called for a comprehensive and non-discriminatory approach against all terrorist organisations, irrespective of their identity, organisational structure or stated objectives.
Pakistan has consistently stressed that Afghan territory must not be permitted to serve as a platform for attacks against neighbouring countries. Islamabad maintains that meaningful regional stability requires effective action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory, disruption of their financing and logistics, and concrete measures to prevent cross-border attacks.
Pakistan has also reiterated its stated interest in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, while maintaining that lasting regional stability requires security concerns between Afghanistan and its neighbours to be addressed through concrete and verifiable measures.
The Pakistani position underscores that countering terrorism requires more than addressing extremist narratives alone. According to Islamabad, sustainable security depends on preventing terrorist organisations from maintaining safe havens, recruitment networks, financial channels and operational infrastructure capable of threatening countries across the region.
