US Congress Report Exposes Deep Terror Networks In Pakistan, Surge In Attacks

Last Updated:March 28, 2026, 17:07 IST

According to the CRS, 12 of the 15 identified groups are listed as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under US law.

A recent report by the Congressional Research Service has exposed the continued presence of several militant groups operating from Pakistan. According to the analysis, Pakistan remains both a hub and a target for a wide range of armed non-state actors, many of which have been active for decades.

The report also points out that successive military operations and policy measures have not fully dismantled networks designated as terrorist organisations by the United States and the United Nations.

It categorises these groups into five parts—global, Afghanistan-focused, India-Kashmir oriented, domestic, and sectarian—illustrating the layered and overlapping nature of militancy in the region.

According to the CRS, 12 of the 15 identified groups are listed as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under US law, and “most, but not all, are animated by Islamist extremist ideology." The findings are part of the agency’s non-official research outputs intended to brief US lawmakers on global developments.

The report also points to a sharp rise in terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan. After dropping to 365 in 2019, deaths have steadily increased, reaching 4,001 in 2025—the highest level recorded in over a decade. It adds that “Pakistan currently is the country most impacted by terrorism," attributing the surge partly to the resurgence of militant activity following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Among globally oriented outfits, Al-Qaeda continues to maintain a presence in the region, although its “core has been seriously degraded." The group still sustains ties with other militant networks.

The regional branch of the Islamic State, Islamic State – Khorasan Province, is estimated to have between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters and operates across both Afghanistan and Pakistan, drawing recruits from former members of various militant organisations.

Afghanistan-focused groups such as the Haqqani Network continue cross-border activities, with several hundred core members and thousands of fighters linked to major attacks in Afghanistan.

The report further notes that India-focused groups remain active. Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and Jaish-e-Mohammed, linked to the 2001 Parliament attack, continue to operate from Pakistani territory with objectives tied to Kashmir.

On the domestic front, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is identified as the deadliest group within the country, with an estimated 2,500 to 5,000 fighters seeking to overthrow the state and impose Sharia rule.

The report also highlights rising separatist violence in Balochistan, where the Balochistan Liberation Army—designated as a terrorist group in 2025—has targeted infrastructure and foreign nationals, including projects associated with China.

Overall, the CRS assessment underscores that Pakistan’s security landscape remains deeply challenged by a diverse and resilient network of militant groups operating across multiple fronts.

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