Pakistan has at least 12 terror groups that are recognized as foreign terrorist organizations by America, including five India-centric terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), according to a US Congressional report on terrorism.
These terror groups have broadly, but not exclusively, classified as globally-oriented, Afghanistan oriented, India- and Kashmir-oriented, domestically oriented, and Sectarian (anti-Shia).
The report, 'Terrorist and Other Militant Groups in Pakistan, released on the eve of the historic Quad in-person summit suggests Pakistan is a base of operations or target for numerous armed and non-state militant groups, some of which have existed since the 1980s.
Also Read | S.Korea, China envoys discuss N.Korea's missile launch
The summit was hosted by US President Joe Biden in Washington and was attended in person by each of the other three members of the group.
The report emphasized on Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It said that JeM was founded in 2000 by Kashmiri militant leader Masood Azhar and was subsequently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) by the US in 2001.
JeM along with LeT have been responsible for the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, among other significant attacks, it added. Furthermore, JeM has openly declared war on the US.
Also Read | After AUKUS, Japan debates if it too should have nuclear-powered submarines
Other terrorist groups inside Pakistan are Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent(AQIS), Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP or IS-K); the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundallah (aka Jaysh al-Adl), Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ).
The report also assessed the role of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI) which was formed in 1980 in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Army. After 1989, it redirected its efforts toward India, although it did supply fighters to the Afghan Taliban.
“With an unknown strength, HUJI today operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, and seeks annexation of Kashmir into Pakistan,” the report said, adding that HUM was designated as an FTO in 1997 and operates mainly from Pak-Occupied Kashmir and from some Pakistani cities.
