Pakistan backs ISKP to pressure Afghan Taliban, Baloch rebels

A report says Pakistan is extending patronage to the Islamic State‑Khorasan Province (ISKP) not out of ideological sympathy but as a tool to pressure both the Afghan Taliban and Baloch insurgents. The analysis notes heightened cross‑border activity since June 30 and a surge in skirmishes between Pakistani and Afghan forces. The Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched over a thousand attacks in 2025, while Baloch armed groups have stepped up assaults on security forces and on the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. China has voiced concerns about the safety of its personnel and infrastructure, placing additional pressure on Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose hard‑state response in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has further alienated local populations. The report cites a United Nations forum in 2024 where the issue was raised, warning of broader regional implications.

The allegations suggest a strategic shift by Islamabad toward using a terrorist proxy to compensate for strained relations with the Afghan Taliban and to quell separatist movements in Balochistan, raising security and diplomatic concerns for regional stakeholders.