By Khushal Khan

ISLAMABAD -  Pakistan is facing escalating security and strategic challenges, with officials accusing India of not only supporting terrorist organizations targeting Pakistan but also attempting to weaponize water resources, threatening the country’s security and economy.

According to Pakistani authorities, India is actively backing militant groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), using Afghanistan as a base for operations.

During the regimes of former Afghan presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, Indian officials reportedly enjoyed near-free movement across Afghanistan, enabling coordination with anti-Pakistan militant outfits. While many Indian officials reportedly fled Kabul following the Taliban takeover, Islamabad says the networks and patterns of influence remain intact.

“The TTP and BLA are being nurtured from across the border,” said a senior Pakistani security official on condition of anonymity.

“External support fuels terror in Pakistan while destabilizing Afghanistan, harming both countries’ security.”

The human and economic costs of cross-border terrorism have been devastating. Pakistan has lost more than 90,000 lives to militancy over the past decades, and economic losses are estimated at over $150 billion.

Officials emphasize that despite repeated appeals to the international community to curb India’s alleged sponsorship of terrorism, the global response has remained muted.

Security concerns extend beyond militancy. Pakistan has warned that India is attempting to weaponize water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), restricting the flow of vital rivers such as the Chenab.

Officials stress that water is a fundamental human right, crucial for agriculture, industry, and public health.

“All options will be exercised to ensure India does not restrict our water supply or use it as a weapon,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi recently during his weekly briefing.

“Any attempt to manipulate water flow constitutes a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.”

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry has also highlighted the risk of India supplying advanced military technology to Afghanistan, including drones, potentially to terrorist elements.

“Whether Israeli drones or other equipment were handed over by India to Afghanistan, particularly to terrorist groups, is under investigation,” said spokesperson Tahir Andarabi. “Considering India’s active support to TTP and other banned outfits, such transfers cannot be ruled out.”

Analysts note that India’s alleged actions not only exacerbate Pakistan’s internal security challenges but also undermine regional stability and economic development. Terror attacks along the border, coupled with attempts to disrupt water resources, risk deepening poverty, threatening agriculture, and destabilizing communities across Pakistan.

Officials warn that a coordinated international response is essential to address cross-border terrorism and the weaponization of natural resources. “External support for militancy and attempts to manipulate water are threats not just to Pakistan but to regional peace,” said the security official. 

Despite the challenges, Pakistan continues to strengthen border security, monitor militant networks, and raise concerns on international platforms. Authorities stress that global recognition of India’s role in destabilizing the region is crucial to protecting Pakistan’s citizens, economy, and vital resources, including water.

As Islamabad navigates these multifaceted threats, the message from officials is clear: combating terrorism, safeguarding lives, and securing resources require vigilance, international cooperation, and decisive action against external actors exploiting Afghanistan as a strategic base.