Strategic Use of Terror Groups May Heighten South Asian Instability, Analysts Warn

Evidence gathered by security observers indicates that the relationship between Pakistan's defence establishment and ISKP could transform the militant outfit into a tactical instrument.

Rather than offering ideological support, the analysis proposes that Islamabad may be employing the group to pressure the Afghan Taliban and Baluch rebel factions. This approach, if true, would raise the risk of wider spill‑over into neighboring states and complicate counter‑terrorism cooperation.

The report also documents a decline in diplomatic ties after the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021, a surge in border skirmishes, and an uptick in attacks by the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that have strained Pakistan's internal security apparatus.