Taliban: A Safe Haven for Anti-Pakistan Militancy
Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have allowed Afghanistan to transform into a safe haven for terrorist organizations that target Pakistan. Groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, AQIS, IMU, and ETIM/TIP operate with near impunity, using Afghan territory to train, fund, and plan attacks across the border. The Taliban’s inaction has converted Afghanistan from a neutral neighbor into a strategic launchpad for cross-border terrorism, arms trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and the spread of extremist ideology. This has created a persistent security vacuum along Pakistan’s western frontier, forcing Islamabad to take proactive defensive measures to protect its citizens, trade routes, and infrastructure.
TTP and IMP: Direct Threats to Pakistan
The TTP continues to pose the most immediate and direct threat to Pakistan, particularly in eastern Afghan provinces such as Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar. The formation of the Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) in April 2025, merging AQIS, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, and Lashkar-e-Islam, represents a significant escalation, enabling coordinated attacks on Pakistani security forces. In its first year, the IMP claimed over 150 violent incidents, demonstrating an unprecedented operational tempo. The Taliban’s failure to dismantle or even monitor these groups underscores their complicity in fostering militancy against Pakistan, compelling Islamabad to respond with targeted cross-border operations and sustained intelligence campaigns.
ISIL-K: Persistent Regional Danger
Although the Taliban view ISIL-K as a rival, the group has demonstrated remarkable resilience, recruiting fighters from Central Asia and leveraging sophisticated digital propaganda and cryptocurrency financing. Its attacks, including the January 2026 bombing in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw area that killed a Chinese national, highlight Afghanistan’s continuing role as a hub for transnational terrorism. ISIL-K’s presence poses indirect threats to Pakistan by destabilizing the region, targeting foreign investments, and creating conditions for cross-border extremist infiltration.
Al-Qaeda: Strengthening Militant Networks
Al-Qaeda continues to function as a training, advisory, and logistical hub, enabling TTP, IMP, and other anti-Pakistan groups to carry out operations efficiently. The sheltering of senior Al-Qaeda leaders in Kabul, coupled with Taliban tolerance, ensures that Pakistan-focused militancy remains organized and well-resourced. The group’s ideological and tactical support amplifies the capacity of Pakistan’s adversaries, making cross-border terrorism a sustained and high-risk challenge.
Cross-Border Spillover: Pakistan on the Frontline
Afghanistan’s porous borders have become active conflict zones. Pakistan has repeatedly carried out defensive airstrikes against militant sanctuaries in Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar provinces, often in response to attacks on civilian and military targets. Despite these lawful actions, Taliban-backed militants retaliate, causing civilian casualties, destabilizing local communities, and threatening vital trade and energy corridors. Pakistan’s proactive defense measures demonstrate its commitment to maintaining regional stability and protecting national security against threats originating from Afghan soil.
Illicit Economy Fueling Terrorism
Afghanistan’s illicit economy, including opium and methamphetamine production, arms trafficking, and human smuggling, directly finances anti-Pakistan militancy. Synthetic drug labs, cross-border arms flows, and human trafficking networks sustain the operational capabilities of groups like TTP and IMP, creating a continuous cycle of violence and criminality. The Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to curb these activities reinforces Pakistan’s position as the frontline state combating terrorism and preserving regional peace.
Conditional Engagement: Holding Taliban Accountable
Pakistan emphasizes that any engagement with the Taliban must be conditional. Recognition, diplomatic relations, and aid should be linked to verifiable steps toward dismantling terrorist networks and curbing cross-border militancy. Regional cooperation, through intelligence sharing, coordinated border security, and initiatives like SCO-RATS, is essential for containing the threat emanating from Afghanistan and ensuring that the Taliban cannot use regional rivalries to evade accountability.
Conclusion
Afghanistan under Taliban rule has evolved into a central hub for transnational terrorism that directly threatens Pakistan and regional stability. By tolerating TTP, IMP, ISIL-K, and Al-Qaeda, the Taliban have ensured that cross-border militancy continues unabated. Pakistan’s proactive security measures, regional coordination, and insistence on accountability exemplify its leadership in defending South Asia from Afghanistan-based terrorism. Until the Taliban dismantle these networks and enforce genuine border security, Pakistan remains on the frontline of countering threats to both national and regional peace.
The Evolving Terrorist Ecosystem of Afghanistan under Taliban: A Taxonomy of Threats
Taliban: A Safe Haven for Anti-Pakistan Militancy
Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have allowed Afghanistan to transform into a safe haven for terrorist organizations that target Pakistan. Groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, AQIS, IMU, and ETIM/TIP operate with near impunity, using Afghan territory to train, fund, and plan attacks across the border. The Taliban’s inaction has converted Afghanistan from a neutral neighbor into a strategic launchpad for cross-border terrorism, arms trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and the spread of extremist ideology. This has created a persistent security vacuum along Pakistan’s western frontier, forcing Islamabad to take proactive defensive measures to protect its citizens, trade routes, and infrastructure.
TTP and IMP: Direct Threats to Pakistan
The TTP continues to pose the most immediate and direct threat to Pakistan, particularly in eastern Afghan provinces such as Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar. The formation of the Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) in April 2025, merging AQIS, the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, and Lashkar-e-Islam, represents a significant escalation, enabling coordinated attacks on Pakistani security forces. In its first year, the IMP claimed over 150 violent incidents, demonstrating an unprecedented operational tempo. The Taliban’s failure to dismantle or even monitor these groups underscores their complicity in fostering militancy against Pakistan, compelling Islamabad to respond with targeted cross-border operations and sustained intelligence campaigns.
ISIL-K: Persistent Regional Danger
Although the Taliban view ISIL-K as a rival, the group has demonstrated remarkable resilience, recruiting fighters from Central Asia and leveraging sophisticated digital propaganda and cryptocurrency financing. Its attacks, including the January 2026 bombing in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw area that killed a Chinese national, highlight Afghanistan’s continuing role as a hub for transnational terrorism. ISIL-K’s presence poses indirect threats to Pakistan by destabilizing the region, targeting foreign investments, and creating conditions for cross-border extremist infiltration.
Al-Qaeda: Strengthening Militant Networks
Al-Qaeda continues to function as a training, advisory, and logistical hub, enabling TTP, IMP, and other anti-Pakistan groups to carry out operations efficiently. The sheltering of senior Al-Qaeda leaders in Kabul, coupled with Taliban tolerance, ensures that Pakistan-focused militancy remains organized and well-resourced. The group’s ideological and tactical support amplifies the capacity of Pakistan’s adversaries, making cross-border terrorism a sustained and high-risk challenge.
Cross-Border Spillover: Pakistan on the Frontline
Afghanistan’s porous borders have become active conflict zones. Pakistan has repeatedly carried out defensive airstrikes against militant sanctuaries in Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar provinces, often in response to attacks on civilian and military targets. Despite these lawful actions, Taliban-backed militants retaliate, causing civilian casualties, destabilizing local communities, and threatening vital trade and energy corridors. Pakistan’s proactive defense measures demonstrate its commitment to maintaining regional stability and protecting national security against threats originating from Afghan soil.
Illicit Economy Fueling Terrorism
Afghanistan’s illicit economy, including opium and methamphetamine production, arms trafficking, and human smuggling, directly finances anti-Pakistan militancy. Synthetic drug labs, cross-border arms flows, and human trafficking networks sustain the operational capabilities of groups like TTP and IMP, creating a continuous cycle of violence and criminality. The Taliban’s inability or unwillingness to curb these activities reinforces Pakistan’s position as the frontline state combating terrorism and preserving regional peace.
Conditional Engagement: Holding Taliban Accountable
Pakistan emphasizes that any engagement with the Taliban must be conditional. Recognition, diplomatic relations, and aid should be linked to verifiable steps toward dismantling terrorist networks and curbing cross-border militancy. Regional cooperation, through intelligence sharing, coordinated border security, and initiatives like SCO-RATS, is essential for containing the threat emanating from Afghanistan and ensuring that the Taliban cannot use regional rivalries to evade accountability.
Conclusion
Afghanistan under Taliban rule has evolved into a central hub for transnational terrorism that directly threatens Pakistan and regional stability. By tolerating TTP, IMP, ISIL-K, and Al-Qaeda, the Taliban have ensured that cross-border militancy continues unabated. Pakistan’s proactive security measures, regional coordination, and insistence on accountability exemplify its leadership in defending South Asia from Afghanistan-based terrorism. Until the Taliban dismantle these networks and enforce genuine border security, Pakistan remains on the frontline of countering threats to both national and regional peace.
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