Thu May 08 03:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan’s State-Sponsored Terrorism: A Deeply Rooted Threat

**New Delhi, India (May 8, 2025)** – A new analysis reveals the deeply entrenched and state-sponsored nature of Pakistan’s terrorist infrastructure, posing a significant threat to regional stability and the global order. The report, authored by senior IPS officer Brijesh Singh, details how Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has systematically cultivated and supported terrorist organizations for decades, using them as proxies against India and for other geopolitical goals.

The analysis highlights the key players in this network, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Haqqani Network, and ISIS-K. It details their operational capabilities, funding mechanisms (ranging from ISI funding to international donations and criminal activities), training camps, and transnational reach. The report emphasizes the sophistication of these groups, citing attacks like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing as examples of their capabilities.

Singh’s report documents Pakistan’s three-tiered system for supporting terrorism: strategic direction and funding from specialized ISI units, operational support from retired military personnel, and material assistance like weapons and training. Despite officially participating in the “War on Terror,” Pakistan has maintained a policy of differentiating between “good” and “bad” terrorists, allowing certain groups to operate with impunity. The devastating human cost is highlighted: over 45,000 lives lost since 1990 due to Pakistan’s hand in terrorism.

The report further underscores Pakistan’s consistent failure to dismantle terror financing networks, noting its repeated placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. Statements from former and current Pakistani officials acknowledging state support for terrorist groups further strengthen the analysis.

The extensive radicalization apparatus within Pakistan, including extremist madrassas and the propagation of violent jihad ideology, is also highlighted as a key factor in sustaining this network. The recent Pahalgam attack, linked to LeT, underscores the enduring threat this infrastructure poses.

Singh concludes that effectively addressing this threat requires sustained international pressure on Pakistan to dismantle these terrorist organizations and the state apparatus that supports them, not merely rebranding or temporarily restraining them. The issue, he argues, transcends bilateral concerns, posing a direct challenge to the rules-based international order.

Read More