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Pakistan is determined to eliminate all terrorist organisations operating on its territory. The leadership and the security agencies see the Islamic State-Khorasan Province and the Balochistan Liberation Army as similar threats to peace, regardless of how these groups seek to position themselves politically.
Talking to The News on Sunday, Syed Akhar Ali Shah, a former police officer who once served as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home and tribal affairs secretary, says the recent fighting between the IS-KP and the BLA is an indicator of the volatile nature of these organisations. Their existence alone, regardless of whom they target, represents a constant threat to peace. “Their differences do not work in Pakistan’s favour,” Shah adds. “What we are seeing is a violent chaos within a networkthat still sharesthe common goal of destabilising Pakistan. We treat that as a continuing threat.”
Mubasher Bukhari, a security analyst, says that the BLA, which operates mainly in Balochistan, has long sought to disrupt economic activity and target state institutions, often attacking security personnel, government installations and critical infrastructure. The IS-KP, meanwhile, has carried out overtly sectarian attacks, bombings and targeted assassinations, seeking to inflame divisions and weaken the social fabric. While their ideologies differ, it is clear that their operational objectives intersect.
Shah says that the state draws no distinction when safeguarding the national interest. Pakistan’s objectives—unity, peace and security—are non-negotiable. Any group seeking to undermine these will face a robust and uncompromising response. “Our attitude is not based on who these groups fight among themselves,” says the former Home Department secretary. “It is based on what they threaten: the lives of our citizens and the integrity of our country.”
Conflicts among terrorist groups, security authorities stress, do not alter Pakistan’s security strategy. The country’s defensive posture is not contingent on the convenience of militant disunity. “We do not measure our security by their divisions,” said Mubasher Bukhari. “We measure it by our ability to stop them before they can harm Pakistan.”
Infighting among terrorists, officials say, should not be mistaken for progress. These disputes are, as one senior counterterrorism official puts it, “chaos feeding on chaos.” It still costs lives. The state’s commitment, they say, is not reactive but proactive. It is aimed at preventing attacks, deterring recruitment and dismantling extremist networks before they can build significant strength. Military operations, intelligence-led policing and enhanced border controls remain key pillars of this strategy.
Despite challenges, the government remains confident in its counterterrorism capabilities. Pakistan does not pick sides among its enemies.
In recent months, Pakistan has intensified counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and various vulnerable areas. These operations have targeted leadership figures, disrupted arms smuggling routes and cut off funding channels. The authorities have also invested in technology-driven surveillance and intelligence coordination between civilian and military agencies to close gaps in the country’s internal security grid.
Beyond direct security measures, Islamabad continues to promote socio-economic initiatives in high-risk regions, recognising that terrorism often exploits poverty, unemployment and lack of education. Projects aimed at improving local infrastructure, expanding educational access and generating employment opportunities are part of the effort to undercut extremist recruitment. Pakistan is tackling both the symptoms and the roots of terrorism,” says Bukhari. “You cannot have lasting security without stability in people’s daily lives.”
Bukhari says that regional dynamics add another layer of complexity to Pakistan’s security landscape. Instability in certain parts of Afghanistan continues to provide militant groups with safe havens and recruitment grounds. Both the IS-KP and the BLA have sought to exploit cross-border sanctuaries and smuggling routes, benefiting from weak governance in those areas. Pakistani officials have repeatedly called for stronger regional cooperation, stressing that unchecked militancy in Afghanistan poses a threat not only to Pakistan but also to other Central and South Asian states.
Despite these challenges, the government remains confident in its counterterrorism capabilities. Pakistan need not pick sides among its enemies; it must the threats. Whether the IS-KP and the BLA clashover ideology, territory or tactics, they have the same destructive agenda. They violate the law, disrupt peace and are trying to fracture national unity. All attempts to destabilise the country have to be confronted with firmness, focus and full resources of the nation.
The relevant resolve is not merely political; it is also institutional and operational. From the highest levels of government to grassroots, there is consensus that Pakistan cannot afford to lower its guard. “The stakes are too high,” says Syed Akhtar Ali. “We are protecting not just today’s peace, but also the future of the country.”
For Pakistan, this is a long-term struggle. Akhtarr Ali Shah acknowledges that militant groups may evolve, regroup and change tactics. However, he says, the country’s determination to confront them will remain constant.
The author works for The News, reporting onmilitancy and securityissues. He can becontacted atsherali9984gmail.com