UN Remarks and Domestic Power Shifts Fail to Silence Terror Networks

During a recent United Nations assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the presence of terrorist groups inside Pakistan but asserted that the state now has them under control. Observers note that such statements are difficult to reconcile with the sustained influence of the army chief over national policy.

Legal reforms have expanded the military’s authority, making it unlikely that the prime minister can speak independently on security matters. The entrenched role of the army in Rawalpindi, combined with the ISI’s reputation for shielding extremist leaders, perpetuates a climate of suspicion among international investigators.