After another wave of conflict between India and Pakistan, it seems the United States is stepping up as a mediator in the hopes of establishing peace. There’s certainly a strong push from U.S. leaders to facilitate an arrangement that will keep tensions low between these two nuclear-armed nations, which have a long, fraught history that makes any resurgence of violence concerning.
However, this brings to light a critical issue: Pakistan’s ongoing involvement in state-sponsored terrorism.
The inquiry into the Pahargam incident could shed light on Pakistan’s role in supporting and training terrorists. But there’s an uncomfortable reality that many, including some of Pakistan’s allies, may be ignoring. Numerous terrorist factions operate along the Pakistan border, and they thrive, seemingly unchallenged by the Pakistani government.
Beyond the tensions with India, Pakistan’s connections with groups in Iran and Afghanistan are also troubling. Afghan veterans often remark that the tribal areas in northwestern Pakistan serve as safe havens for groups like the Taliban when they cross over into Afghanistan. Recall how al-Qaeda sought refuge there after fleeing U.S. actions in 2001.
And, let’s not forget about Osama bin Laden, who was hiding in Pakistan for years. The Obama administration took extensive measures to carry out the operation against him without informing the Pakistani government, as there was a clear lack of trust. It’s troubling that such a decision had to be made, yet in the convoluted world of international relations, the U.S. seemed to accept Pakistan’s embarrassment over bin Laden’s presence as enough of a consequence. It really is more complicated than that.
Since then, the Taliban’s fluid movement back and forth into Afghanistan has prompted the U.S. to increase drone strikes in Pakistan—a drastic measure against a supposed ally. When thinking about this, it’s disheartening. There are thousands of terrorists operating along that border, so the U.S. had to launch attacks on its own ally.
Following the U.S. withdrawal, Pakistan reached out to the new Taliban government, framing the Taliban victory as a means of liberation. Yet, the roots of the Taliban in Pakistan complicate matters. Many in Pakistan support a Taliban regime, which also poses conflicts of interest there.
Interestingly, these Pakistani Taliban extremists are currently involved in terrorist activities against their fellow Pakistanis. That’s right. Groups, once supported by the Pakistani government, are now targeting Pakistani citizens while remaining operational within Pakistan.
The Pakistani intelligence services have long maintained a cooperative relationship with the Taliban, but the support doesn’t stop there. Reports indicate that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has funded and trained various groups, planning operations targeting India. Notably, Lashkar-e-Taiba has been behind attacks such as the 2001 assault on the Indian Parliament and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
All of this support—training, funding, and strategy—can be traced back to Pakistan. And the founder, Hafiz Saeed, despite having a bounty of $10 million on his head from the U.S., remains sheltered in a military-guarded residence in Pakistan.
Furthermore, Iran has engaged with terrorist elements within Pakistan, attacking alleged terrorist sites. Iran accuses Pakistan of supporting Sunni separatist movements, which mirrors accusations India has made regarding Pakistan’s influence in Kashmir.
It’s perplexing to consider that while Iran is viewed with suspicion by the U.S., having been designated a state sponsor of terrorism, Pakistan continues to harbor more active terrorist groups that have inflicted more harm on Americans than Iran or other countries on that list.
If India and Pakistan do come to the negotiating table, it’s crucial for U.S. leadership, including officials like President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to adopt a firm stance on Pakistan. With concerns that Pakistan may be utilizing Chinese aircraft in their current engagements, and with ongoing collaborations that pose substantial threats to U.S. interests in the region, proactive measures must be prioritized.
Ultimately, there’s a risk that Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus may continue to support and harbor terrorist factions, creating even greater threats to its neighbors and further destabilizing the region.
