In one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent decades, The Resistance Front (TRF) — Pakistan based US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — carried out the cold-blooded killing of 26 innocent tourists, including a foreign national, on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam. Eyewitness accounts and investigations revealed that the attackers segregated victims based on religion, targeting non-Muslims in a brutal display of religiously motivated violence. A local Muslim pony ride operator was also killed while attempting to intervene.
The massacre occurred against the backdrop of encouraging developments in the region: successful elections and steady progress toward economic growth and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack sought to derail tourism and stability in the picturesque Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, a popular destination that had seen a resurgence in visitors.
Pakistan’s signature on the Pahalgam attack became irrefutable in the months that followed. On July 28, 2025, Indian security forces neutralized three Pakistani terrorists linked to the massacre on the outskirts of Srinagar during Operation Mahadev. Recovered identity documents confirmed that one perpetrator was Habib Tahir (also known as Hamza Afghani or Habib Khan), from the village of Koiyan near Khai Gala in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Another was identified as Bilal Afzal (alias Suleman Shah or Faizal Jutt), with links to Lahore. Pakistani Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), weapons, and other items recovered left little room for denial.
This incident fits a long pattern. Pakistan’s continued sponsorship and use of non-state actors against India has shown no signs of abating. Intelligence indicates that terror financing has evolved, shifting toward encrypted digital wallets and cryptocurrencies to evade traditional tracking mechanisms. Meanwhile, major Pakistan-based terrorist groups remain highly active.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has expanded its recruitment by establishing a dedicated women’s wing named “Jamaat-ul-Mominat” (also referred to as Jamaat-ul-Mominaat), announced in late 2025 and led by Sadiya Azhar, sister of JeM chief Masood Azhar. The wing focuses on indoctrination, recruitment of women (including from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and families of commanders), and preparation for operational roles, including potential suicide missions. Online courses such as “Tufat al-Muminat” or “Daura-e-Taskiya” support these efforts.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), TRF’s parent organization and the group behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has enhanced its capabilities by developing a specialized “Water Wing” or “Water Force.” This maritime unit imparts tactical skills including swimming, scuba diving, high-speed boat handling, underwater maneuvers, and infiltration techniques, with reports of hundreds of operatives trained in modules reminiscent of the 26/11 sea-borne assault. Recruitment drives, mobilization rallies, training camps, and inflammatory hate speeches targeting India continue openly across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan’s central role in global terrorism is further underscored by authoritative international assessments. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, Pakistan ranks at the very top as the country most impacted by terrorism for the first time, recording 1,139 terrorism-related deaths and over 1,000 incidents in 2025 — its highest level since 2013. A US Congressional Research Service report dated March 25, 2026, explicitly identifies Pakistan as a base of operations for numerous long-active terrorist groups.
The threat extends far beyond South Asia. In March 2026, Asif Merchant (47), a Pakistani-origin individual, was convicted in the United States of plotting to assassinate US politicians and officials, including high-profile targets, in a murder-for-hire scheme with international dimensions. Separately, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan (21), another Pakistani national, pleaded guilty to planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York. In August 2025, a Pakistani national accused of LeT membership was arrested in South Korea after entering the country illegally.
These cases illustrate a disturbing reality: Pakistan continues to function as the global epicenter and factory of terrorism, exporting not only operatives but also ideology that endangers international security. From the targeted killings in Pahalgam to plots in American cities and beyond, the evidence points to a state ecosystem that sustains, trains, and deploys terrorist networks while denying involvement.
The international community faces a persistent challenge. While India has demonstrated resilience through security operations, diplomatic outreach, and efforts to foster development in Jammu and Kashmir, the unabated activities of groups like TRF, LeT, and JeM — backed by evolving financing methods and expanded recruitment — demand stronger global action. Diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions, and coordinated intelligence-sharing are essential to dismantle the infrastructure that allows terrorism to thrive from Pakistani soil.
Until Pakistan demonstrably dismantles these networks rather than shielding them, incidents like the Pahalgam massacre will remain tragic reminders of a threat that knows no borders. The world cannot afford complacency when a single nation serves as the primary incubator for such widespread violence.
