Background Context
- Pakistan has employed proxy wars as a long-term strategic tool to undermine India, described as “bleed India through a thousand cuts.”
- Key militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed have been central to these proxy operations.
- Notable incidents include:
- 2016 Uri attack by JeM
- 2019 Pulwama attack by JeM
- 2025 Pahalgam massacre claimed by TRF, a front for LeT
- India responded with cross-border strikes, escalating tensions including aerial dogfights and missile/drones exchange.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT): Characteristics and Role
- LeT is Pakistan’s most loyal militant proxy, integral to the country’s geopolitical strategy.
- It operates with ideological convergence with Pakistan’s military and establishment.
- While other groups have sometimes challenged Pakistani military’s authority, LeT restricts its militancy outside Pakistan (mainly India and Afghanistan), maintaining social and philanthropic activities inside Pakistan.
- This dual role grants LeT protection from Pakistani state action and allows it to rebrand under different names (e.g., Jamaat-ud-Dawa) to avoid bans and international pressure.
- LeT survived despite bans and international designation as a terrorist group, with extensive organizational networks for recruitment, fundraising, and activism.
Pakistan’s Strategic Use of Militants (“Double Game”)
- Pakistan’s proxy war strategy extends beyond India — also involves complicity with Taliban in Afghanistan.
- During the U.S. war on terror in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Pakistan acted as both an ally to the U.S. and protector of the Taliban.
- Pakistan’s intelligence agency (ISI) reportedly provided support and shelter to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden despite global scrutiny.
- This “double game” allowed Pakistan to pursue its strategic interests while avoiding full international consequences.
Challenges in Countering Proxy Wars
- Options to deal with Pakistan’s proxies as per experts include:
- Maintaining the status quo (limited responses, diplomatic efforts)
- Decapitating militant leadership (targeted elimination or disruption of groups)
- Escalating tensions (cross-border strikes, controlled military operations)
- India’s strategy has leaned towards “controlled escalation,” calibrating responses below the nuclear threshold to retain strategic leverage without triggering all-out conflict.
- Pakistan’s proxy warfare continues to test India’s resilience and strategic patience.
Strategic Implications & Way Forward
- Pakistan’s proxy war doctrine is deeply embedded in its geopolitical ambitions to challenge India’s regional dominance.
- India must maintain a multi-dimensional approach including intelligence operations, diplomatic pressure, and calibrated military responses.
- International cooperation is crucial to dismantle militant networks and cut off their funding and support.
- Long-term peace requires addressing underlying regional disputes alongside counter-terrorism measures.
