Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir publicly pledged to eliminate terrorism during a visit to the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar, even as Indian intelligence officials allege that Munir has simultaneously directed the rebuilding of globally designated terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) — groups whose infrastructure was reportedly dismantled during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The apparent contradiction, according to officials familiar with the matter, underscores a deep strategic duplicity at the heart of Pakistan's counter-terrorism posture.

Munir's Anti-Terror Pledge and Its Limits

Officials indicate that Munir's anti-terrorism remarks were specifically directed at the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), both of which have inflicted significant casualties on Pakistani security forces in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Crucially, according to these officials, Munir's statements conspicuously omit any reference to LeT, JeM, or Hizbul Mujahideen.

An Intelligence Bureau official said Munir would not mention LeT or JeM when speaking about terrorism. 'Instead, he has publicly stated that the terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir are part of a legitimate struggle. This itself clearly shows that terror outfits such as the Lashkar and Jaish have open backing of the system both on the military and political front,' the official said.

Rebuilding Terror Infrastructure Post Operation Sindoor

According to Indian intelligence assessments, following Operation Sindoor, Munir convened a series of meetings with the top brass of the Pakistan Army, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and representatives of the terror groups themselves. The meetings reportedly focused on reconstituting the infrastructure of LeT, JeM, and Hizbul Mujahideen that was destroyed during the Indian armed forces' operation.

Officials also noted that posters and signboards featuring Munir alongside senior Lashkar commanders have reportedly surfaced in Lahore. Senior Lashkar operatives, including Talha Saeed and Sari Yakoob Sheikh, have allegedly praised Munir openly. Another official said Munir has 'done everything under the sun to legitimise these terror groups' and has sought to be projected as a hero by them, reportedly suggesting at a recent meeting that these groups should rally behind him.

The Balochistan Dimension

Pakistan observers have questioned whether Munir's hardline approach in Balochistan is strategically sound. The BLA continues to draw widespread popular sympathy in the region, with supporters arguing that the movement's demands — access to basic amenities, greater development, and a larger share of revenues from Balochistan's natural resources — are legitimate grievances. Critics argue that Munir's crackdown orders across Balochistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have compounded rather than resolved the unrest.

ISKP Factor and Escalating Regional Risk

Counter-terrorism experts have raised an additional alarm, alleging that Munir proposed involving the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) — historically a sworn enemy of Pakistan — alongside LeT and Pakistani security forces in operations against the TTP and BLA. Experts warn that the ISKP's reported empowerment under Munir's backing poses a serious danger to regional stability. 'The Islamic State is a banned outfit and poses an immense danger to the region if it becomes stronger,' they cautioned.

Jammu and Kashmir: The Primary Focus

Indian officials assess that Munir's immediate public statements about defeating terrorism are driven partly by domestic pressure, but his primary strategic focus remains Jammu and Kashmir. According to intelligence reports, Munir has instructed senior officials to coordinate with LeT and JeM operatives at launchpads in PoK, where reportedly close to 1,000 terrorists are waiting to facilitate infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said Munir is expected to continue backing these groups in attempts to carry out major attacks.

The allegations, if accurate, point to a calculated Pakistani military strategy of selectively targeting militant groups that challenge state authority while simultaneously nurturing those that serve its cross-border agenda.