Pakistan is currently dealing with a self-inflicted security crisis, blaming the Afghan Taliban for harboring the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) despite previously lauding the Taliban’s return to Kabul in 2021 as a strategic success. The Pakistani establishment has been accused of exacerbating domestic unrest by manipulating the security apparatus to influence politics, leading to a deadlock.
A recent suicide bombing at the Khadija-tul-Kubra mosque in Islamabad on February 6, 2026, resulted in 32 fatalities and nearly 170 injuries, highlighting a security strategy that prioritizes geopolitical interests over internal stability. The ‘Times of Israel’ report emphasized that Pakistan’s security policy has historically favored external scapegoats, such as India, Afghanistan, and even its own political parties, while experts increasingly recognize deeper underlying issues.
The bombing is not seen as an isolated incident of foreign interference but rather as a consequence of Pakistan’s longstanding approach of using militant groups for strategic purposes. The Pakistani military has historically viewed militant proxies as tools for achieving strategic objectives, leading to the survival of designated terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) despite international pressure and FATF scrutiny.
The global community perceives Pakistan’s attempts to link the Islamabad mosque bombing to India or the Afghan Taliban as diversion tactics. The report underscores the need for Pakistan to shift away from viewing militants as assets and recognize them as existential threats to break the cycle of violence. Until this shift occurs, the report warns that Pakistan will continue to face security challenges.
