For more than seven decades, Pakistan has projected itself as a guardian of Muslim causes, a geopolitical balancer, and a champion of Kashmir. Yet behind this carefully crafted façade lies a far more sinister reality: a state that has institutionalized deception, exported terror, and destabilized entire regions for strategic depth and ideological ambitions. The world today acknowledges Pakistan not as a victim of terrorism but as the fountainhead of global jihadist terror, with a deep ecosystem of state-sponsored groups, radicalization factories, and covert military doctrines that have brought untold suffering to South Asia.

From the moment of its creation, Pakistan’s leadership framed its identity in opposition to India. The Pakistani military establishment particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence evolved into a parallel power center that weaponries jihad as a low-cost, deniable tool of foreign policy.
The Zia-ul-Haq era militarized Pakistani society, empowered extremist networks, and injected radical ideas into education, mosques, and social spaces. Later, the Afghan jihad and American funding transformed Pakistan into a breeding ground for thousands of jihadi fighters. Once the Afghan war ended, Pakistan redirected these fighters toward India, especially Jammu & Kashmir.
Over time, terrorism ceased to be an instrument and became a state habit. Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Taliban factions, and multiple proxy outfits became extensions of the state’s strategic doctrine. Instead of dismantling them, Pakistan protected, nurtured, and exported them.
Kashmir has been the frontline of Pakistan’s long-standing terror doctrine. Under the garb of “moral and diplomatic support,” Pakistan built a violent ecosystem that attacked Kashmir’s identity, culture, communal harmony, and developmental aspirations.
As India strengthened border control and infiltration routes became difficult, Pakistan shifted its focus. Over the last decade, Pakistan adopted a new strategy: radicalising educated Kashmiri youth.The phenomenon became visible when: Highly educated scholars, including PhD students from prestigious universities, joined terror outfits. Engineering graduates, IT professionals, and post-graduate students began to drift toward extremist ideology.
Recently, doctors and medical professionals were caught hiding arms, ammunitions and explosives and promoting pro-Pakistan narratives, inciting separatism among youth, or misusing their positions to aid terror networks. The unmasking of radicalised medical professionals shocked Kashmiri society. It revealed the deep infiltration of Pakistan’s propaganda within academic institutions. These individuals were not driven by poverty or unemployment but by ideological indoctrination crafted through online handlers, encrypted communication channels, and systematic brainwashing.
This trend demonstrates Pakistan’s evolving playbook: When guns fail, ideology steps in. When infiltration drops, radicalisation rises. Targeting Civilians, Pilgrims, and Security Forces: The New Wave of Pakistani Terror, Pakistan-sponsored groups have repeatedly targeted:
Civilians, Migrant workers, Democratic representatives, religious pilgrims, tourists, Police and security personnel Two recent cases underline Pakistan’s continued efforts to keep Kashmir destabilised.
The attack in Pahalgam, a symbol of Kashmir’s beauty and communal harmony, was a chilling reminder of Pakistan’s desperation. Targeting pilgrims and visitors is not new. Pakistan views such attacks as opportunities to: Disrupt tourism, Damage Kashmir’s economic revival, Instill fear and uncertainty, gain global attention through civilian casualties The Pahalgam attack once again exposed how Pakistan-backed terrorists attempt to sabotage peace every time Kashmir begins to heal.
The Delhi car blast, traced back to Kashmir-based operatives influenced and guided by Pakistan's deep state, signalled a dangerous shift. It showed: Terror networks radicalised inside Kashmir can be used beyond the region. Pakistan aims to widen the theatre of conflict. Local modules are activated as “sleeper cells” to attack major Indian cities. The blast highlighted that Pakistan’s terror architecture is flexible, adaptive, and willing to exploit educated youth for high-impact attacks.
The most alarming development in recent years is Pakistan’s targeted radicalisation of Kashmir’s emerging educated class. This includes: Students pursuing higher education, religious scholars, medical professionals, Business graduates, social media influencers
Pakistan has adopted a three-layered radicalisation model: Ideological Grooming, Digital propaganda, Telegram channels, encrypted chats, and VPN-based communication are used to:
Spread separatist narratives, Portray India as an occupier, glorify terrorists as “martyrs”, Promote religious extremismPsychological Manipulation Handlers exploit: Emotional vulnerabilities, Identity crises, Local grievances, Sense of injustice, by creating echo chambers, they make individuals believe they are part of a larger religious duty.
Operational Recruitment, once indoctrinated, youth are pushed gradually, first into online propaganda, then logistics support Finally, into operational tasks, the rise of hybrid terrorists—individuals appearing normal but conducting attacks is a result of this strategy.
Pakistan wants educated faces for terror because: They appear “credible”, They can evade suspicion, They can influence peers, They can operate digital networks efficiently.This is Pakistan’s new “educated jihad” doctrine, far more dangerous than its earlier gun-wielding proxies.
Pakistan has long mastered the art of narrative manipulation. The moment an attack occurs, denial begins, propaganda spreads, India is blamed, and terrorists are glorified as freedom fighters. When international pressure increases, Pakistan switches to its victim narrative—claiming it suffers from terrorism, is committed to peace, and has cracked down on terror groups—yet the masterminds of major attacks, from Mumbai 26/11 to Pulwama, continue to operate freely under state protection. Today, the world increasingly views Pakistan as a state sponsor of terror in all but official designation, a haven for extremist ideologies, and a country both unable and unwilling to control the groups it once nurtured. Its constant conflicts with neighbors, coupled with its persistent appeals for international aid, have further damaged its credibility. Repeated FATF grey-listing and quiet acknowledgement from even friendly nations underscore Pakistan’s entrenched extremist footprint.
This strategy has now backfired. The very “strategic assets” Pakistan cultivated have turned against it. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan routinely attacks Pakistani forces, Balochistan is in open revolt, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face rising instability, and sectarian violence continues to intensify—making Pakistan a victim of the fire it once ignited. In Balochistan, Pakistan uses information blackouts and media bans to hide mass atrocities that include enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, resource exploitation, and military oppression. When protests grow, authorities resort to internet shutdowns, curfews, mass arrests, and sweeping “security alerts,” all aimed at silencing the people rather than addressing their grievances.
India, meanwhile, has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy to counter Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. It has strengthened border security, busted terror modules in Kashmir, eliminated hybrid terrorists, dismantled financial networks, countered propaganda with digital surveillance, and reinforced community policing. Parallel efforts to promote tourism, jobs, and youth engagement have reshaped Kashmir’s internal landscape. Diplomatically, India has succeeded in isolating Pakistan internationally, leaving Islamabad with shrinking support and increasing scrutiny.
Kashmir’s societal mood has shifted dramatically. Despite Pakistan’s relentless attempts to destabilize the region, Kashmiris today show rising disillusionment with Pakistan, increased participation in democratic processes, booming tourism, and a revival of cultural and religious events. Youth are turning to entrepreneurship, sports, startups, and skill development, while communities reject extremist ideologies. The narrative has changed—Kashmir is moving forward, and Pakistan finds this difficult to accept.
Ultimately, Pakistan’s long-standing dependence on conflict, chaos, and terror has begun to collapse under its own weight. As its economy sinks, society fractures, and provinces push back against Islamabad’s dominance, the deep state clings even tighter to terrorism as a survival mechanism. The world must recognize that Pakistan’s terror machinery is not accidental but a deliberate state project. Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan’s own provinces have borne the deadly consequences of this policy. Real peace in South Asia requires dismantling the roots of this menace—politically, diplomatically, ideologically, and economically. Until Pakistan abandons its obsession with exporting terror, it will remain what many have come to call it: Fitna-e-Pakistan—the fountainhead of terror.