Pakistan’s involvement with militant groups is seen as a strategic move to influence Chinese investment in Afghanistan and exert pressure on the Afghan Taliban regarding Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries. A recent report highlighted the security challenges hindering foreign economic involvement in Afghanistan, exemplified by the January 2026 terror attack on a Kabul restaurant by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
The report mentioned that Pakistan denies accusations of cross-border militancy, while some Taliban officials and analysts suggest that Pakistan-backed networks support ISKP operations in the region. The suicide bombing at a Chinese-owned restaurant in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw district on January 19, 2026, claimed by ISKP, resulted in civilian casualties, including Chinese nationals. This attack was aimed at Chinese presence in Afghanistan, continuing a series of violent incidents targeting Chinese interests in the country.
Following the Taliban’s resurgence in August 2021, Chinese engagement in Afghanistan has been accompanied by sporadic ISKP attacks on Chinese targets. Notable events include a 2022 hotel assault in Kabul against Chinese nationals and subsequent attacks on Chinese workers. While ISKP has taken responsibility for these attacks, the debate among security analysts persists on whether they are part of a coordinated effort or random acts of violence.
Accusations have long been leveled against Pakistan for supporting specific militant groups while combating others, a charge consistently refuted by Islamabad. The report highlighted instances such as the ban on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) by Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, although the enforcement of this ban has been questioned by India and international observers. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of aiding the relocation of ISKP operatives, especially during heightened border tensions in 2024-2025.
Chinese investments in Afghanistan, such as the Amu Darya oil project and the Mes Aynak copper mine, have faced delays due to various factors like security concerns, Taliban governance capabilities, international sanctions, and commercial viability issues. The report emphasized that without addressing the root causes of militant capacity in the region, whether through state failure or deliberate policies, Afghanistan’s economic progress will continue to be hampered by persistent security threats.
