US Congress Report: Pakistan Remains Haven for Armed Groups
A recent United States Congress report, published on March 25, 2026, warns that Pakistan continues to serve as a hub for several armed groups, many of which have primarily focused on Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
The report names approximately 15 armed groups, many of which the US classifies as “foreign terrorist organizations.” Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harakat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, Harakat-ul-Mujahideen, and Hizbul Mujahideen are among these groups whose activities reportedly have not ceased.
According to the document, Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was established in the 1980s and designated as a terrorist organization by the US in 2001, remains active in parts of Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This group is accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people.
The report also references Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group founded in 2000 by Masood Azhar, which is accused of carrying out the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament.
The report states that despite extensive military operations and hundreds of intelligence actions, several groups sanctioned by the United States and the United Nations continue to operate within Pakistani territory.
At the same time, the report acknowledges that Pakistan has taken measures in recent years to limit terrorist activities; however, concerns remain regarding the propagation of extremist ideologies in some religious schools within the country.
Analysts believe that the continued presence of these groups could escalate regional tensions and keep counterterrorism a central issue in the relationships among countries in the region.
