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Pakistan-Backed Terror Groups Threaten South Asia, Warns Report

A report criticizes Western societies and governments for a narrow, inadequate understanding of jihad terrorism, which fails to confront its ideological roots. It highlights how Pakistan exploits this by backing terror groups on its soil that engage in territorial expansionism and regional Islamisation. The report details two such fronts: the political party PMML, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the proxy group TRF, both designated as terrorist entities. It further reveals alarming scale of financial support from Pakistan's ISI, with yearly expenditures estimated between $125-250 million to fund these organizations.

Key Points: Pakistan Terror Groups Threaten South Asia Security: Report

  • Western short-sightedness on jihad terrorism
  • Pakistan backs terror groups for expansionism
  • LeT fronts PMML & TRF pose major threat
  • ISI spends millions funding terrorism
3 min read

Pakistani terror groups pose grave threat to South Asia's security: Report

Report warns Western myopia on jihad terrorism aids Pakistan-backed groups like LeT fronts PMML & TRF, posing a grave regional security threat.

"This myopia will continue to harm international security until Western foreign policy towards jihad terrorism and its supporters drastically changes. - Uzay Bulut"

Washington, Jan 31

Western societies, media, and governments remain largely short-sighted on "jihad terrorism", failing to understand or effectively confront its depth, motivations, and evolving tactics in Pakistan and beyond, a report said on Saturday. Taking advantage of the situation, Pakistan has been backing terror groups on its territory that indulge in territorial expansionism, ethnic cleansing, and wider regional Islamisation.

"Many Westerners view jihad terrorism through narrow lenses like foreign policy grievances or isolated incidents, rather than as an ideologically and religiously driven phenomenon. This leads to inadequate counter-terrorism strategies and even possibly aiding and abetting terrorism-breeders, such as Pakistan. This myopia will continue to harm international security until Western foreign policy towards jihad terrorism and its supporters drastically changes," Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut wrote for American media outlet 'PJ Media'.

She stressed that terror groups enabled by Pakistan's military and security establishment continue to pose a grave security threat across South Asia.

"The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), for instance, is a registered political party in Pakistan. It was established in 2023 as the latest political front associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a UN-designated terrorist organisation, under the UN's ISIS and Al-Qaida Sanctions (Resolution 1267)," Bulut stated.

"Headquartered in Lahore, PMML promotes an Islamist agenda. They contested the 2024 general elections by fielding over 200 candidates nationwide, including prominent figures in constituencies like Lahore and Karachi, but secured no seats," she added.

According to the report, key PMML leaders include Talha Saeed, son of UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), along with other associates from the LeT network.

Another terror group, the Resistance Front (TRF), has gained increased popularity in Pakistan.

Emerging in 2019-2020, TRF is a jihadist terror outfit operating as a proxy front for LeT and deliberately projected as a "local, secular resistance" group to mask its Islamist roots and to evade global terror scrutiny after Pakistan came under increased pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog

"The Resistance Front is designated as a terrorist organisation by India. Furthermore, the United States in 2025 designated TRF as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organisation' and 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' entity, explicitly stating that the TRF is a front and proxy of LeT. This designation reinforced long-standing intelligence assessments that TRF is not an independent group but part of LeT's adaptive terror infrastructure," it noted.

The report stated that the scale of support extended by Pakistan's intelligence agency (ISI) to the terror groups operating on its soil is deeply "alarming".

Citing a report of the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), it said, "Pakistan also plays a key role in funding these terrorist organisations. As per reports, the yearly expenditure of ISI towards the terrorist organisations runs between 125-250 million USD, covering salaries, cash incentives for high-risk operations and retainers for guides, porters and informers."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The point about Western myopia is so accurate. We often simplify these conflicts. The data about ISI funding is shocking—$250 million a year? That's state sponsorship. The international community needs a unified, tougher stance.
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Priyanka N
Creating political fronts like PMML is a clever but dangerous tactic to gain legitimacy. The fact that they fielded 200 candidates is alarming, even if they lost. It shows an attempt to enter the mainstream. We must remain vigilant. 🇮🇳
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Rahul R
As an Indian living in a border state, this isn't just a report for us—it's our daily reality. The threat is very real. Articles like this are important, but where is the concrete action? Sanctions and FATF grey listing haven't been enough.
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Aman W
While the core issue is valid, I hope we in India also use this as a moment for introspection. Our own internal security and social cohesion must be iron-clad to withstand such external threats. A strong, united India is the best response.
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Kriti O
The part about TRF being projected as "secular resistance" is a classic deception playbook. It's meant to confuse the global media. More journalists like Uzay Bulut need to highlight these facts. The common citizens of Pakistan are also victims of this policy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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