Pakistan faces rising insurgent violence and military-political tensions

Pakistan is facing escalating internal instability characterized by rising violence in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, alongside growing friction between the military and the political class. In Balochistan, violence has surged in Pashtun-majority districts that were previously less affected by conflict. Recent attacks include a TTP-claimed assault on a customs facility in the Pishin district and a BLA-claimed ambush on a paramilitary convoy in the Ziarat district.

Simultaneously, a political rift is widening as civilian leaders increasingly challenge the military's dominance over national narratives. While the military often attributes regional instability to external threats, political figures, including Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, have pointed toward internal terrorism as a primary driver. Officials suggest that the military's control over the political narrative is facing unprecedented resistance from both the political class and the public, raising the possibility of a major confrontation between state institutions.