This article evaluates to what degree the relationship between Pakistan and militant groups, primarily Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operating within its border, has influenced Islamabad’s counterinsurgency approach. The article succinctly describes the process that led to the formation of Pakistan and its ongoing fight with India since then over Jammu and Kashmir. It further discusses India’s overall strategic recourses in the Disputed Territory that have driven it to interpose in the internal affairs of its neighbors, principally Pakistan and Afghanistan. The interventionist behavior of India in the region generates strong anti-India sentiment among Pakistanis and Afghans. And in turn, the Pakistan militant groups cunningly use this anti sentiment as red meat to feed and reinforce the mindset of their followers and Kashmir nationals. Also, it addresses the developmental impact these militant groups have on Pakistan’s strategy to counter India’s dominance over the Disputed Territory of Kashmir. Additionally, this research highlights that while LeT has been previously a vibrant element of Pakistan’s regional stratagem, the group capability has morphed beyond Pakistan’s ISI’s control. It operates independently of the political development, and its organizational structure has extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir. The seeming threat poses by Indians over the Disputed Territory of Kashmir indeed creates a security quandary for the Pakistani army and security establishments. For over seven decades, India and Pakistan have clashed over the Kashmir-Occupied Territory, critical to both countries’ economies and prosperity. Islamabad has used LeT as its proxy primarily to keep India entangled in the economic drain in the Kashmir area while Pakistan continues to influence Afghanistan. This study is interested in understanding past events in an attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause of occurrences, and their impact on the present events; thus, it is historical research. Both primary and secondary sources have been consulted to conduct this inquiry. Grasping the changing regional aspects of terrorism may be significantly advantageous in policymaking and intervention strategy. The research results highlight the significance of the entrenched geopolitical conflict and interests of the two nations and the order in comprehending terrorism. And the religious hatred of the Indian Hindus is not the principal driving force of militant groups of Pakistan attacks against India; instead, it is used as a vehicle by jihadists to make a point. The driving factor behind their attacks toward New Delhi is against its hegemonic desires of territorial control. Psychologically, the issue has been the building and making of the separate and unique identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The research contributes to a clear understanding of the past and provides some possible ways forward. The study concludes that Islamabad and New Delhi need new strategies to mend their relationship and develop a plan to restore their security and stability. Lastly, it suggests some pragmatic recommendation steps India and Pakistan might take to overcome their differences and co-exist peacefully as neighbors.
Cite this paper
Kulungu, M. (2021). Understanding the Cozy Relationship between Pakistan ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Open Access Library Journal, 8, e7884. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1107884.
Sunil, D. (2012) History as the Architect of the Present: What Made Kashmir the Nucleus of South Asia Terrorism India-Pakistan Conflict and Its Impact on U.S. Homeland Security. Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey.
https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/6788
Rhea Vance-Cheng, B.A. (2011) Discourses of War and Peace in Kashmir: A Positioning Analysis. Master’s Thesis, Georgetown University, Washington DC.
https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553270/vance-chengRhea.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Raghavan, P. (2013) The Finality of Partition: Bilateral Relations between India and Pakistan, 1947-1957. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
Asoori, P. (2020) A Look into the Conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. E-International Relations.
http://www.sirjournal.org/research/2020/10/19/a-look-into-the-conflict-between-india-and-pakistan-over-kashmir
Naseer, A.K. (2013) Geopolitical Significance of Kashmir: An Overview of Indo-Pak Relations. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 9, 115-123.
Murnock, T. and Johnson, T. (2006) Stability in Pakistan: Realizing the Vision of Enlightened Moderation. Master’s Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey.
https://www.nps.edu/documents/105988371/107571254/Stability in Pakistan Murnock thesis.pdf/076188d9-81a4-4723-bcd0-78cd6097c636
Park, D.C. (2016) India’s Intervention in East Pakistan: A Humanitarian Intervention or an Act of National Interest? Synergy: The Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies, 1.
Murshid, N. (2011) India’s Role in Bangladesh’s War of Independence: Humanitarianism or Self-Interest? Economic and Political Weekly, 46, 53-60.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41719989
Zakaria, A. (2019) By Marking Genocide Day, Bangladesh Seeks to Remember What Pakistan Wants to Forget.
https://scroll.in/article/832420/by-marking-genocide-day-bangladesh-seeks-to-remember-what-pakistan-wants-to-forget
Hakimi, A. (2012) Sources of Tension in Afghanistan and Pakistan: A Regional Perspective—The Changing Nature of Power and Sovereignty in Afghanistan.
https://www.cmi.no/publications/file/5920-the-changing-nature-of-power-and-sovereignty-in.pdf
Siddique, Q. (2011) Pakistan’s Future Policy towards Afghanistan: A Look at Strategic Depth, Militant Movements and the Role of India and the US.
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/59843/1/66870022X.pdf
Markey, D.S. (2013) Politics and Indo-Pakistani Normalization. Council on Foreign Relations.
https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/politics-and-indo-pakistani-normalization.
The Economic Times (2021) Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in South Asia Hinge on Normalization of Relations between India, Pakistan: U.N. Official. The Economic Times.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/peace-stability-and-prosperity-in-south-asia-hinges-on-normalisation-of-relations-between-india-pakistan-un-official/articleshow/83006905.cms
Hanauer, L. and Chalk, P. (2012) India’s and Pakistan’s Strategies in Afghanistan: Implications for the United States and the Region. RAND, Santa Monica.
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/occasional_papers/2012/RAND_OP387.pdf
Constantino, Z. (2020) The India-Pakistan Rivalry in Afghanistan. United States Institute of Peace.
https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/sr_462-the_india_pakistan_rivalry_in_afghanistan.pdf
Oimstead, J. (2014) India-Pakistan Relations: A Destructive Equilibrium—The Diplomat.
https://thediplomat.com/2014/11/india-pakistan-relations-a-destructive-equilibrium/
Tellis, A.J. (2012) The Menace That Is Lashkar-e-Taiba. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/03/13/menace-that-is-lashkar-e-taiba-pub-47512
Howenstein, N. (2008) The Jihadi Terrain in Pakistan: An Introduction to the Sunni Jihadi Groups in Pakistan and Kashmir.
https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10454/2224/resrep1.pdf?sequence=1
OEA Team and TRISA (2012) Lashkar-e-Taiba: The Three-Headed Snake.
https://community.apan.org/cfs-file/__key/docpreview-s/00-00-02-42-23/Lashkar_2D00_e_2D00_Taiba.pdf
Singh, K. (2017) Lashkar-e-Taiba: Evolving into a Hybrid Entity? Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).
https://www.claws.in/publication/lashkar-e-taiba-evolving-into-a-hybrid-entity/
Felbab-Brown, V. (2018) Why Pakistan Supports Terrorist Groups and Why the U.S. Finds It So Hard to Induce Change. Brookings.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/01/05/why-pakistan-supports-terrorist-groups-and-why-the-us-finds-it-so-hard-to-induce-change/
Nawaz, S. (2016) Countering Militancy and Terrorism in Pakistan. United States Institute of Peace.
https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR393-Countering-Militancy-and-Terrorism-in-Pakistan-The-Civil-Military-Nexus.pdf
Rumi, R. (2015) Charting Pakistan’s Internal Security Policy. The United States Institute of Peace.
https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR368-Charting-Pakistans-Internal-Security-Policy.pdf
Ahmad, M., Banerjee, D., Bhatnagar, A., Fair, C., Felbab-Brown, V., Haqqani, H., Karim, M., Karim, T., Katju, V., Raja, C., Nelson, M. and Ranade, J. (2016) Mapping Pakistan’s Internal Dynamics: Implications for State Stability and Regional Security. The National Bureau of Asian Research.
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SR55_Mapping_Pakistan_February2016.pdf
Korb, L., Katulis, B. and Cookman, C. (2009) Meeting the Challenges in Pakistan: Trip Report and Recommendations for U.S. Policy. Center for American Progress. https://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2009/05/pdf/pakistan_trip_report_exec_summ.pdf
Roggio, B. (2016) Pakistan: Friend or Foe in the Fight against Terrorism?
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg20742/html/CHRG-114hhrg20742.htm
Biberman, Y. (2021) Eight Reasons Why the United States Should Promote Kashmir Peace Talks Now.
https://mwi.usma.edu/the-case-for-a-kashmir-peace-deal-now