Pakistan a base for major terror groups, some active since 1980s: US Congress report

Pakistan has erstwhile again recovered itself facing the consequences of long-standing enactment for panic groups, arsenic highlighted successful a US Congressional probe study dated March 25. The study presents a stark representation of Pakistan arsenic a basal for galore equipped and violent organisations, immoderate of which person been progressive since the 1980s.According to the report, these groups autumn into antithetic categories—globally focused, Afghanistan-oriented, India-focused, domestic, oregon sectarian. Twelve of them are designated arsenic Foreign Terrorist Organizations nether US law, and astir travel Islamist extremist ideologies.The study notes that contempt large subject operations, including airstrikes and hundreds of thousands of intelligence-based actions, Pakistan has been incapable to destruct these groups.

Many organisations designated by the US and the United Nations proceed to run from its soil.Among them is Lashkar-e-Taiba, formed successful the precocious 1980s and designated arsenic a violent organisation successful 2001. Led by Hafiz Saeed and based successful Pakistan’s Punjab state and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it aboriginal operated nether the sanction Jamaat-ud-Dawa to bypass sanctions. The group, which has thousands of fighters, was liable for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and respective different large incidents.

Jaish-e-Mohammed, founded successful 2000 by Masood Azhar and besides designated successful 2001, has astir 500 fighters progressive crossed India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Other groups specified arsenic Harakat-ul Jihad Islami, Harakat ul-Mujahidin and Hizbul Mujahideen are besides said to run from Pakistan.The study supports India’s long-held presumption that Pakistan continues to backmost specified groups. It besides mentions The Resistance Front, believed to beryllium linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried retired the Pahalgam onslaught that killed 26 people.

The radical has been declared a planetary violent organisation.In effect to that attack, India launched Operation Sindoor successful May 2025. The Indian Armed Forces carried retired coordinated strikes connected 9 violent camps successful Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, sidesplitting implicit 100 militants, trainers and associates. Officials said the strikes targeted groups similar Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen portion minimising civilian harm.On May 10, Pakistan retaliated by targeting Indian aerial unit bases, service depots, airports and subject areas utilizing missiles and drones. However, India’s aerial defence and counter-drone systems successfully intercepted the attacks, preventing damage.India past carried retired strikes connected Pakistani airbases, bid centres and defence systems on the occidental front. Key bases including Chaklala, Sargodha, Rafiqui, Rahimyar Khan, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Bholari were hit.Following this escalation, Pakistan’s manager wide of subject operations contacted his Indian counterpart connected May 10 to question a halt successful fighting. Formal talks were held connected May 12, and some sides agreed to halt subject operations.The latest US report, however, reinforces concerns that Pakistan’s links to violent groups stay active.