By Samantha Rai
The Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11 remain one of the defining chapters of terrorism in India. Even after nearly two decades, the planning, execution, and aftermath of this attack serve as a reminder that terrorism targeting India often has roots and support networks inside Pakistan. This insight is crucial to understanding the continuing cycle of violence, seen recently in the Pahalgam terror attack and the Delhi Red Fort blast as well. These incidents reflect persistent challenges to India’s security, anchored in regional geopolitical realities.
The 26/11 attack in 2008 was unprecedented in scale and coordination. Well-trained terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, attacked multiple high-profile locations across Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, and a popular café. Over the course of 60 hours, the siege resulted in more than 149 deaths, including civilians, law enforcement officials, foreigners, and hospital staff. The attackers received operational support, training, and direction from handlers within Pakistan, pointing to a state-sanctioned or at least state-tolerated terrorist network. The Indian dossier submitted to Pakistan after the attack detailed these links extensively, but Pakistan’s response was dismissive. Since then, Pakistan-backed terrorism targeting India has shown no signs of abating.
The Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 India mostly tourists and civilians further illustrates this enduring threat. Indian investigation agencies, particularly the National Investigation Agency (NIA), found evidence linking the attack directly to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) acting through Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. The attackers were confirmed Pakistani nationals who reportedly entered Indian territory weeks in advance, with logistical local support from Over Ground Workers within India. The Pahalgam attack was premeditated with reconnaissance conducted in multiple potential target areas, signaling careful planning akin to 26/11-style operations.
The Delhi Red Fort blast in November 2025 was linked to Pakistan-based terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, an al-Qaeda affiliate, as well as to the international jihadist group ISIS. Investigations revealed that the suicide bombers, were part of a wider terror network with global and regional ties. These operatives were radicalized and funded through Pakistani handlers and jihadi organizations, blending regional insurgency with global terror ideology. The coordinated involvement of Pakistan-supported groups alongside ISIS reflects the growing complexity and transnational dimension of the terrorism India faces today.
From a statistical standpoint, India continues to face a persistent terror challenge. Over the last two decades, thousands of attacks have been recorded, resulting in the loss of several thousand lives. Many of these attacks have been linked to militant groups operating from or receiving support from Pakistan. The rate of fatalities and incidents has fluctuated but remains significant enough to keep counter-terrorism efforts at the forefront of India’s security priorities. Pakistan’s history of supporting militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, often under the guise of strategic depth in Kashmir, has been widely documented by both Indian and international sources. While Pakistan denies state sponsorship, there have been admissions by certain officials and in some cases credible intelligence exposures of ISI’s involvement in facilitating terrorist acts inside India.
For Pakistan, where terrosim has inherently grown within the society, this provides both the rationale and the operational grounds for these groups to maintain their activities and capabilities. These dynamics complicate peace efforts and maintain a combustible situation across the border. India’s response post-26/11 has combined enhanced military vigilance, improved urban security infrastructure, tighter border controls, and proactive counter-terrorism legislation. Major operations like “Operation Sindoor” in response to recent terror strikes have sought to dismantle terror networks and improve pre-emptive threat identification. On the diplomatic front, India has persistently pushed Pakistan at international forums to take credible and tangible actions against terror groups and their handlers.
Pakistan has become a notorious hub for terrorism, providing safe havens, training grounds, and logistical support for numerous terrorist organizations targeting India and beyond. Groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind operate openly or with tacit approval within its borders, enjoying protection from elements within Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI. This state patronage has allowed these groups to recruit, plan, and execute attacks with relative impunity, embedding terrorism into the country’s geopolitical and strategic framework. Despite international pressure and some official rhetoric against terrorism, Pakistan’s deep-rooted nexus with militant groups remains, and given its strategic incentives and internal dynamics, this pattern is likely to persist. Without a fundamental shift in policy and enforcement, Pakistan will continue to be a breeding ground for terror that destabilizes India and thewider region. (Foreign Media)