Pakistan ranked fourth in Global terrorism index published in 2025. It is stated that, since in post 2023, the intensity of terrorism has peaked in Pakistan. Moreover, the upper hand of ISIS Khorasan and TTP has created fear and chaos in KP and Baluchistan. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), an ISIS affiliate, claimed responsibility for the August 20 attack. Consequently, these events clearly reflect the risks from Afghanistan and highlight ongoing regional security challenges. Furthermore, Pakistan has confronted spillover possessions of unpredictability from Afghanistan predominantly after the withdrawal of United States.
Not a Quarantined Incident
Notably, the hooks of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) have prolonged to not just Bajur but then also to the different places in Pakistan. ISKP aim is to target armed forces as well as citizens. For undermining our country, it is involved from the attack of Mastung to the cruel assault on mosque in Peshawar.
All the attacks on civilians were controlled from Afghanistan. For generating fear among the civilians of Pakistan, ISKP is largely targeting representative places.
Like mosques, armed forces, and busy roads etc., with less sources. Its fear and compliance are disclosed by the uneven plan.
A Complex Web of Regional Terror
From the land of Afghanistan many terrorist organization are operated or controlled including ISKP and International Terrorist Organizations (ITOs) and Pakistan is fighting lonely. Some organizations, for instance TTP, ISKP and the scraps of Al-Qaeda feat the unwell checked border attaches Pakistan and Afghanistan. They slipup into those irresponsible spaces, reestablish systems, and propel battalions from corner to corner. Occasionally they smoothly share incomes, exchange armed forces, or trade moments of aptitude when it ensembles them.
Their common plan is not their friendship, but their aggression headed for Pakistan. And the most important thing is that the uncertainty of Afghanistan allowing them for all these activities.
They are not just combat with guns, but they are very active on social media, some encrypted applications, and they are showing their failed operations into conquer for false propaganda.
The instance of Bajur was assumed over the lens of hostage insurgence Theory and the Asymmetric conflict. ISKP and TTP’s active involvement highlights an uneven conflict that escalates terror and risk to Pakistan with minimal resources. But then again, the response of Pakistan is efficiently contradicted violence to uphold peace and protect their inhabitants. The counter terrorism operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul-Fasad effectually controlled the growth of extremist getups in Pakistan. Therefore, the response of Pakistan to radicalism imitates the counterterrorism concept that hindered TTP and ISKP.
Moreover, modern technology is a big shift such as use of drone surveillance, links with intelligence outfits and cooperation with locals. All of this together has made it harder and harder for terror groups to stay hidden or operate without noticing.
ISKP Shift to Spectacle over Substance
Like previous attacks, Bajur shows ISKP’s shift to asymmetric, one-off violence rather than sustained campaigns. The group lacks the strategic capacity to hold ground in Pakistan and instead depends on Afghan sanctuaries to attempt sporadic high profile strikes. What ISKP currently seeks is not territorial control, but attention to a dangerous shift that still causes civilian harm but reflects their diminishing influence on the battlefield. Their strength today lies more in perception than actual ground capability.
These hit and run tactics designed to avoid direct confrontation with Pakistan’s military while still projecting relevance to external sponsors, global jihadist sympathizers, and local recruits.
Pakistan Steadfast Commitment
Pakistan’s resolve remains unshaken. It is obvious that if Radd-ul-Fasaad will help FATA and Baluchistan to disassemble the bases of terrorists, so now a days Pakistan are presenting no mark of stepping back from the conflict. No one like ISKP and any other terrorist groups permitted to risk the safety of the country.
The leaders of Pakistan, at diplomatic level, has problem recurrently raised with Kabul. They have intimated the Afghan current administration to take the actual, existing footsteps in contradiction of activists using the land of Afghan.
However, in spite of the consultations and the official declarations, there has not been considerable noticeable deed on the broken up and that is a rising fear.
Pakistan is trying to keep the border safety very tight from own side, making boundary walls, some new check posts, and the monitoring of aerials. However, the task is threatening. The uneven land, the permitted movement of ethnic groups and the complications in politics on the Afghan side all make closing the border tranquil.
This conflict is fortified by the martyrs’ soldiers and residents of Pakistan. Any failed attempt by ISKP just repeats the harmony and determination of Pakistan. The assault on Bajaur not just mark rebirth of ISKP, it will recalled as proof that Pakistan is on the pathway to removing ITOs.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform
