Historical Roots of Terror Infrastructure
- Soviet-Afghan War (1979): A watershed moment where Pakistan’s ISI, with CIA funding, cultivated jihadi groups to fight the Soviets.
- This initial alliance institutionalized the use of non-state actors as instruments of foreign policy, particularly for influence in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
Strategic Use of Terror as State Policy
- ISI’s “S-Wing” functions as the strategic arm that oversees terror groups, with:
- Planning, training, funding, and intelligence coordination.
- Systematic classification of ‘good’ terrorists (anti-India/Afghan operations) vs. ‘bad’ terrorists (targeting Pakistan).
- State patronage includes:
- Military support.
- Legal protection (e.g., Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed).
- Infrastructure for operations and radicalisation.
Key Proxy Terrorist Groups
a. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
- Leadership: Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi, Zafar Iqbal.
- Infrastructure: 200-acre headquarters at Markaz-e-Taiba near Lahore; over 16 training camps.
- Global Network: Presence in 21 countries; support from diaspora and Gulf-based donors.
- Ideology: Ahl-e-Hadith (Salafi strain) focused on anti-India jihad.
- Attacks:
- 2008 Mumbai attacks (166 dead).
- 2006 Mumbai train bombings (209 dead).
- 2025 Pahalgam attack (26 civilians killed).
- Funding Sources: ISI ($25–50 million), charities, commodity trading, real estate.
b. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
- Leadership: Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar.
- Infrastructure: HQ in Bahawalpur; training camps in KPK, PoK, and Afghanistan.
- Ideology: Deobandi radicalism, martyrdom-centric jihad.
- Attack Strategy: Suicide bombings (fidayeen); VBIEDs.
- Attacks:
- 2001 Indian Parliament attack.
- 2019 Pulwama bombing (40 CRPF personnel martyred).
- Funding: Al-Rehmat Trust ($10–15 million), ISI intermediaries, real estate (~$30 million).
c. Supporting Entities
- Haqqani Network: Acts as ISI’s Afghan arm; now part of Taliban governance (Sirajuddin Haqqani).
- ISIS-K: Initially antagonistic to ISI, but selective tolerance observed.
- HUM: Recruiter and feeder network; deeply linked with seminary system.
Radicalisation & Madrassa Network
- Over 30,000 madrassas in Pakistan; 10–15% tied to extremist recruitment.
- Terror curriculum promoting jihad against India.
- Channels of indoctrination:
- Media (print, digital).
- Social media propaganda.
- Community outreach via religious preachers.
Terror Financing Architecture
- Charity Fronts: 40+ groups raising $150–200 million annually.
- Hawala and laundering: Dubai, Karachi, Peshawar as key nodes.
- State allocations: Covert budgets (~$100–125 million/year).
- Narcotics trade: Generates $75 million/year (Af-Pak-India corridor).
- Cryptocurrency: At least $15 million moved in 2023.
FATF Greylisting & Global Scrutiny
- Repeated greylisting: 2008–2010, 2012–2015, 2018–2022 — proof of systemic non-compliance.
- Cosmetic compliance: Renaming orgs, temporary arrests.
- Self-admissions: Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, and recent ministers have acknowledged support for terror activities.
Evolution & Adaptability of the Network
- Tactical Shifts:
- From overt insurgency (1990s) to covert operations post-9/11.
- Integration of cyber jihad, media warfare, and cross-border coordination.
- Post-2021 Taliban resurgence: Rebuilt camps in Afghanistan, intensified infiltration along the LoC (2023–2024).
- Synchronized proxy activity across LeT, JeM, and Taliban groups.
Strategic and Security Implications
For India:
- Persistent threat from state-supported terror.
- Challenge of cross-border infiltration, urban terrorism, and cyber recruitment.
- Security burden and civilian toll (e.g., 2025 Pahalgam attack).
For Global Order:
- Erosion of the rules-based international system.
- Direct threat to regional stability, peace processes, and counter-terrorism frameworks.
What Needs to be Done
India’s Approach:
- Continued use of surgical strikes, diplomatic isolation, and OSINT-exposed operations.
- Strengthening border surveillance and counter-radicalisation programmes.
Global Response:
- FATF and UNSC must enforce real accountability.
- Aid to Pakistan should be conditional on verifiable action against terror.
- Greater intelligence cooperation to disrupt transnational funding and recruitment.
