The Great Game Revisited: Geopolitical Manoeuvring and Militancy in South Asia

Analytics 16:00 07.04.2024

Ednews reprints the esteemed article by Sputnik on a very important topic, terrorism and militancy in South Asia and it's future:

In the era of proxies and hybrid warfares, countries employ non-state actors to advance their interests and confront their adversaries without directly risking the lives of their own citizens. This approach often leads to the unintended consequence of innocent civilians in other countries becoming casualties.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, numerous active terrorist groups are functioning as non-state actors. These include Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP*), ISIS-K**, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and separatist groups as per the South Asia terrorism report.
However, this year, ISIS-K has demonstrated itself to be an even more ruthless and brutal terrorist organisation, carrying out terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and now Russia.

Two bomb blasts occurred in the Iranian city of Kerman on January 4, 2024, during a commemoration for a prominent Iranian general who the US killed in 2020. These attacks were claimed by ISIS-K. Similarly, on March 22, 2024, the same terrorist organisation, ISIS-K, carried out a brutal and lethal attack in Moscow, resulting in the loss of 139 lives.

On Thursday, an attack by the Jaish al-Adl terror group, operating from the Pakistan-Iran border, resulted in the deaths of 11 Iranian soldiers.

What Have NATO and the US Left in Afghanistan: the Legacy of Terrorism?

The escalation of terrorism from South Asia to Central Asia is commonly linked to conflicts, interventions, sponsored elements, and unwise policies endorsed by the US, which prioritises its own interests above all else. Before the US and NATO invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the sole presence of a terrorist organisation in the region was that of the Taliban.
 
"Frankly speaking, all these terrorist groups have been strategic alliance and working partnership with US, CIA and Pentagon in fight against communism/USSR in the past however, after the departure and subsequent collapse of USSR, these rented so-called Jihadi groups had been discarded and discredited by the international establishment," Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, an geopolitical expert, & Executive Director at the Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) told Sputnik, "In shorter term, it seems to be no concrete role of the US and NATO in this region against these terrorist groups which are being used to marginalize China and its economic projects in the region by the anti-China regional countries and the global establishment."
 
He further added, "It seems that the US Military Complex Theory is at its peak to implement China’s Containment Theory and China’s Economic Collapse Theory in the region by using these non-state actors against Chinese nationals and CPEC projects."

Nevertheless, subsequent to the pullout and the Doha agreement of 2021, Afghanistan currently harbours over five operational terrorist organisations. In addition, Pakistan, being a neighbouring country, has also emerged as a fertile environment for extremist organisations.

These terrorist groups' acts have made the gravity of the threat to world peace and stability quite clear. ISIS-K has reportedly killed 300 people in fifteen separate terrorist acts in South and Central Asia in the last three months. Because of this, we need to know who is funding and directing the attacks by ISIS-K.
 
"ISIS cells, operating from Afghanistan as a launching point, have carried out attacks in Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey this year. This resurgence of non-state actors like ISIS-K is a chilling reminder that these groups don't play by the traditional rules.Their brutal tactics, as evidenced by major attacks like the 2021 Kabul airport attack, a streak of targeted attacks in Pakistan in the pre- and post-general election context, an attack in Iran on the death anniversary of Qasim Solemani, the Turkiye attack, and now the Moscow attack, destabilise governments in particular and regional security in general," Salman Javed, an expert concluded.
 
Overall, it would appear that the explanation is simple: whoever attacked the Nord Stream pipeline in Europe is also behind the attack in Moscow, be it ISIS-K or some other masked militant organisation. Notably, the main suspects of terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall in the case tried to flee the scene in a car but were detained and charged with terrorism. Russian authorities believe their plan was to flee to Ukraine, where the masterminds of the attack had arranged a safe haven for them. An investigation is underway.

Transnational Terrorism's Impact on Regional Relations

However, the activities of ISIS-K and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran have strained relations between the three neighbouring countries. Recent terrorist incidents include Iran and Pakistan violating each other's airspace and Pakistan taking military action in Afghanistan against the TTP by conducting air strikes.

Since the emergence of cross-border terrorism, the relationship among South Asian states has strained.
"The terrorist actions of the TTP, Haqqani networks, ISIS-K, and other militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan have instigated a series of conflicts among South Asian nations, mainly infiltration, cross-border heavy shelling, surgical air strikes, and the mutual blame game, which sabotaged the good repo of bilateral ties, decreased trade volumes, and weakened prospects of trans-regional connectivity, socio-economic integration, and FDIs," Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, a geopolitical analyst told Sputnik.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Lachin Rising: A Brotherhood of Steel Between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan
15:02 30.05.2025
"Türkiye welcomes Azerbaijan's efforts for peace in South Caucasus"
14:53 27.05.2025
Trump could exit Ukraine talks
13:56 27.05.2025
North Korea says US 'Golden Dome' risks 'space nuclear war'
12:01 27.05.2025
Hikmat Hajiyev meets with NATO Deputy Secretary General in Brussels
11:10 23.05.2025
Foreign diplomats visit Agdam Conference Center
21:35 21.05.2025
New Secondary School Opened in Gakh by Heydar Aliyev Foundation
21:22 21.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents Meet One-on-One in Nakhchivan
21:03 21.05.2025
Opening ceremony of World Cup held in Baku
20:57 21.05.2025
Pashinyan, EU Envoys Discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace
19:52 21.05.2025
New Deputy Appointed to Nakhchivan Education Minister
19:20 21.05.2025
Nakhchivan marks Türkiye’s National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
17:42 21.05.2025
F.Shafiyev: Azerbaijan-Türkiye unity is example of effective cooperation
17:35 21.05.2025
Azerbaijan to build circular power link in Karabakh
17:28 21.05.2025
Azerbaijan, Italy discuss prospects for defense cooperation
17:19 21.05.2025
Ilham Aliyev addresses conference on Western Azerbaijan in Ankara
17:14 21.05.2025
Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan and Türkiye uphold international law for regional stability
17:03 21.05.2025
President of Cuba congratulates President Ilham Aliyev
16:58 21.05.2025
Azerbaijani President: Digitalization of the Middle Corridor is a priority
16:53 21.05.2025
Erdogan: Ilham Aliyev will be remembered as a peacemaker
16:48 21.05.2025
TDT: Azerbaijan is very important for the development of the Turkic world
16:43 21.05.2025
Georgian minister discusses cooperation with Azerbaijani ambassador
16:35 21.05.2025
Azerbaijan, Türkiye mull prospects for development of military cooperation
16:29 21.05.2025
Azerbaijan and Croatia hold political consultations
16:24 21.05.2025
GlobE Network work plan for 2025 approved in Baku
16:18 21.05.2025
Talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia may be held at level of heads of state
12:21 19.05.2025
A Meeting of Nobles exhibition to open in Shusha
12:15 19.05.2025
Azerbaijan increases construction by over 2026
12:09 19.05.2025
How does space "sound"? -NASA created "music" from the sounds of black hole
12:03 19.05.2025
Azerbaijan joins Fez Festival of World Sacred Music
11:57 19.05.2025
Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation starts official visit to Spain
11:53 19.05.2025
EU countries agree on big defence fund with Azerbaijan- Diplomat Says
11:48 19.05.2025
Azerbaijan,Türkiye Hold Talks on Education Sector Cooperation
11:42 19.05.2025
Azerbaijani delegation attends Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2025
11:36 19.05.2025
The official opening of the Azerbaijani carpet exhibition took place in Chisinau
11:31 19.05.2025
Press review of I.Aliyev's participation in the 6th Summit of the "European Political Union"
11:25 19.05.2025
Azerbaijani delegation participated in the International Economic Forum
11:21 19.05.2025
Azerbaijan to be represented at Astana International Forum
11:16 19.05.2025
New agreement between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the field of plant safety
11:14 19.05.2025
Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijani healthcare has made significant steps along a long way of development
11:08 19.05.2025
Hamısı