SURGING cross-border terrorism in Pakistan should not be viewed in a narrower bi-lateral or tri-lateral issue between Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. Indian-sponsored anti-Pakistan proxies directly undermine the strategic interests of regional and global players by destabilizing the Afghan transit route, disrupting Central Asian energy corridors and increasing the risk of a nuclear escalation. Dirty game of proxies and cross-border terrorism patronized by state actors from New Delhi is equally denting the strategic interests of her ally USA.
To many sane minds, the USA is undermining its own strategic and economic goals in Eurasia by overlooking terrorist networks using Afghan territory to destabilize western parts of Pakistan, a trend that simultaneously cedes influence to China. Crucially, this instability impacts Balochistan, a region holding over 55% of Pakistan’s mineral resources, including the massive Reko Diq copper-gold deposit. To secure critical minerals and reduce dependence on south Asian competitors, the US and its allies need diversified supply chains.
However, at this moment Pakistan lacks the capital and technology to extract its vast resources without foreign investment. Because international corporations require stability and predictable environments, whereas ongoing terrorist attacks in Balochistan deter potential investors (who largely belong to the West} by escalating project costs and safety risks. This persistent instability effectively locks particularly American firms out of the market, ceding control to global competitors and undermining Western efforts to diversify critical mineral supplies.
To gain greater strategic autonomy and reduce their dependence on Russia; Central Asian Republics (CARs) are actively seeking alternative trade routes to access global markets. While Pakistan offers the most practical southern gateway connecting Central Asia to the Arabian Sea, West Asia and Europe, however, these regional transport networks depend entirely on a secure Pakistan-Afghanistan environment. Persistent terrorism and instability deter vital infrastructure investments and delay these connectivity initiatives, ultimately blocking the trade corridors needed to enhance the integration of Central Asia into the international economy.
Despite investing massive resources over two decades to combat Afghan terrorism, the US now faces a reality where several terrorist groups still operate from Afghanistan by exploiting weak governance, porous borders and limited enforcement. These persistent cross-border terrorist attacks target and weaken Pakistan, a pivotal regional state that historically served as a critical partner in international counter-terrorism efforts. Terrorist networks rarely stay contained within a single country.
Terrorist ecosystems currently targeting Pakistan have the potential to evolve into broader regional and transnational threats, risking a total reversal of the gains made during the global war on terror. Consequently, the USA must recognize that efforts to destabilize Pakistan and disrupt strategic infrastructure projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will ultimately harm broader American interests rather than containing China alone. Regional instability in Pakistan especially the cross-border terrorism, sponsored by India, hinders Western investment and regional connectivity, jeopardizing US strategic interests, including access to critical minerals and competition with China.
To foster stability, the US should revive counterterrorism intelligence sharing with Pakistan, equip them with advanced technologies and press the Taliban to dismantle safe havens. Contrary to Indian spoiling efforts, Pakistan considers that a stable South and Central Asia would facilitate trade integration, energy corridors, infrastructure connectivity and cross-border investment.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
