A  Shift in Tunes

India’s Role in Promoting Terrorism

The concept of terrorism in South Asia was first injected by India in 1971. Under the guise of “refugee camps,” India established 59 training centres across its eastern border, where the Border Security Force (BSF) trained and equipped the Mukti Bahini. Over 200,000 rebels—including deserters from East Bengal Regiments, East Pakistan Rifles, police personnel, and various Bahini factions—were unleashed against a small Pakistan Army garrison cut off from West Pakistan. Thousands of Indian soldiers disguised as civilians also fought alongside them.

Despite clear evidence of cross-border terrorism, the UN and world powers remained silent. Once Pakistani troops were sufficiently worn down, India launched its armed forces with a 13:1 superiority in men and material, resulting in the breakup of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.

Kashmir and the “Terrorism” Label

India revived the terrorism bogey in 1990 when Kashmiri Mujahideen rose in an armed struggle against its illegal occupation of Jammu & Kashmir. Instead of acknowledging the UN-recognized right of self-determination, India branded the indigenous movement as “terrorism” and accused Pakistan of abetment. The US-led West echoed this narrative, placing Pakistan on the terror-watch list and giving India a free hand to crush Kashmiri freedom fighters through black laws and state terror. Similarly, Washington gave Israel complete freedom to suppress Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

From Afghan Jihad to Global War on Terror

The Afghan Jihad against Soviet occupation in the 1980s and the Kashmiri resistance produced several Mujahideen outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and others. The term “Islamic terrorism” was deliberately coined in the mid-1980s to stigmatise Muslim freedom struggles. Later, Samuel Huntington’s book Clash of Civilization’ amplified the idea of a civilisational conflict between Islam and the West.

Following 9/11, all Muslim liberation movements were conveniently categorised as terrorism. Israel and India exploited this framework to delegitimise Kashmiri and Palestinian struggles. The US-led wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East failed to bring peace; instead, they destabilised entire regions, fueling extremism and spawning groups like ISIS.

Rise of ISIS and Its Expansion

ISIS, originating in Iraq in 2006, expanded into Syria in 2011 and under self-appointed Caliph Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate in 2014. Its extremist Salafist ideology posed a challenge not only to Syria, Iraq, and Iran but also to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Europe, and the US. A multinational coalition eventually crushed its territorial control, but remnants relocated to Afghanistan.

In 2016, ISIS-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) emerged in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, aligning with splinter groups of TTP and later with Noor Wali Mehsud’s TTP. India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reportedly played a role in linking IS-KP with TTP and BLA. After the US withdrawal in August 2021, IS-KP—with backing from RAW and Mossad—became a regional menace, threatening Afghanistan, Central Asia, China, Russia, Iran, and especially Pakistan.

Pakistan: The Main Battleground

Since December 2021, Pakistan has borne the brunt of IS-KP, TTP, and BLA terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Western intelligence agencies acknowledge IS-KP’s growing capabilities, with 4,000–6,000 fighters, many of them Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turks, operating from Afghanistan. The Pentagon sees IS-KP as a global threat due to its recruitment skills, online propaganda, and ability to inspire lone-wolf attacks abroad.

Despite not recognizing the Taliban regime, the US remains engaged with Kabul—primarily to prevent IS-KP’s expansion. Washington also acknowledges that Pakistan’s cooperation was pivotal in dismantling Al-Qaeda, with over 400 leaders captured by Pakistani security forces.

The ISI’s arrest of Shakirullah, IS-KP’s most wanted terrorist and mastermind of the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, marked a turning point. His extradition to the US in 2023 was applauded in Washington and helped thaw strained ties. Gen Michael Kurilla of CENTCOM credited Pakistan as a bulwark against terrorism, paving the way for Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s landmark visit to the US, which reset bilateral relations.

Changing Regional Dynamics

While IS-KP remains a security hazard for the US, China, Russia, and Iran, Pakistan’s primary concern is TTP, BLA, and the stockpile of $7 billion worth of US weapons left in Afghanistan now in terrorists’ hands. Pakistan insists the US must recover these arms and provide counter-terror support.

Terror attacks in Pakistan surged in recent years, with 1,081 casualties in 2024—a 45% increase from 2023. However, regional dynamics are shifting. Iran and Afghanistan have distanced themselves from harbouring TTP and BLA. China actively supports Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, and the US, realising IS-KP’s threat, has also expressed willingness to cooperate.

Conclusion: A Shift in Tunes

For decades, India’s false narrative portraying itself as a “victim of terrorism” found acceptance in the West. But with growing evidence of Indian involvement in cross-border terrorism, that narrative is losing credibility. Pakistan has successfully documented India’s sponsorship of terrorism and presented its case at the UN, US, and EU.

Today, Pakistan’s stature in counterterrorism is rising, while India’s credibility is declining. With changing global and regional security equations, Pakistan expects the international community not only to hold India accountable for terrorism but also to address the long-standing disputes of Kashmir and water security—issues that remain the root cause of instability in South Asia.

The writer is a retired Brig, war veteran defence security and political analyst, columnist, author of five books, ex-chairman TFP, Patron-in-chief CDS Think Tank, takes part in TV talk shows.

The author Brigadier (Retd.) Asif Haroon Raja, is a war veteran, defence and political analyst, international columnist, author of five books, and ex-Chairman of the Thinkers Forum Pakistan. He is currently Director of the Measac Research Centre, Patron-in-Chief of the CDS Think Tank, and Administrator of Fact Check. He frequently appears on TV talk shows and delivers lectures on strategic affairs.

*The views and opinions expressed herein, and any references, are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the Centre for Development and Stability (CDS).