Climate Diplomacy: How Europe Is Turning Green Policy into Global Power
October 28, 2025
Fatima Zuhra
South Asia, a region known for its vast population, diverse culture, rich heritage, fertile land, and exceptional landscape, is not only famous for its beauty but is also infamous for an enduring challenge that has been deeply ingrained in this land, known as terrorism. Among the eight South Asian nations, three of the largest, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, were among the top fifteen list of most affected by terrorism as per the Global Terrorism Index of 2024. This reflects the high vulnerability of the region at the hands of terrorism.
However, the situation was not the same; while the South Asian states were engaged in historical rivalries, terrorism was not a dominant trait in this region until 2001. The history of terrorism took place here in the 1980s during the Soviet-Afghan War. During which the United States, under a covert operation named Operation Cyclone, supported the Mujahideen with the training and logistical support of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to contain communism and the influence of the Soviet Union. But some of these Mujahideen factions evolved into different radical militant networks that not only contain the Soviet Union but also hamper the peace of South Asia and the World at large through events like 9/11.
In 2001, members from one of the radical extremist group networks named Al-Qaeda attacked the Twin Towers in New York City. This unexpected event had not only shaken the world but had made a drastic shift in the United States’ and Pakistan’s policy. The Global War on Terror was announced, and the United States invaded Afghanistan for about 21 years.
This policy shift and war on terror not only makes the militants flee into the western border of Pakistan, but has also made them enemies of the state of Pakistan. One of such militant networks is Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), formed by Baitullah Mehsud in 2007, intending to establish Sharia law in Pakistan, considering the Pakistani government as their enemy, killing army personnel, police officers, and civilians. This led Pakistan into a never-ending war against terrorism, and it became a victim of terrorism.
In 2021, the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan made the situation even worse. After the fall of Kabul into the hands of the Taliban, Afghanistan became a breeding ground for militant factions, due to which the western border area, such as the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, became highly vulnerable to terrorist activities. As of 2025, Pakistan witnessed 329 terrorist incidents, out of which 221 were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 85 in Balochistan. Pakistan witnessed about 2,414 fatalities, with about 901 deaths in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting how much it is affected by terrorism.
Despite Pakistan’s work on counterterrorism measures for decades, states can’t remove the menace of terrorism from its roots alone. Here, a collective effort is required to bring the states together and work on dismantling such factions from their roots, making South Asia a prosperous region. But because of the historical grievances, states are involved in accusing each other, instead of cooperating on such issues.
They accuse each other of sponsoring terrorism in their land and get involved in direct wars over these issues. Recently, we have seen the Pakistan-India four-day war in May 2025 and the Afghanistan-Pakistan War this month, signaling the lack of trust, diplomacy, and cooperation. On one side, India accuses Pakistan of funding Lashkar-e-Taiba and terrorist activities in its land. On the other hand, Pakistan accuses India and Afghanistan of sponsoring and supporting BLA and TTP, respectively.
These accusations bring nothing but ignite further animosity and even war among South Asian states. It is time to look at the other side of the picture, where historical rivalries are considered an element to bring hatred, enhance problems, and breed challenges like terrorism. Here is the time to look beyond historical rivalries and focus on our future.
In an age of globalization, where states can’t be isolated, we should focus on peace instead of war, cooperation instead of divisions, and collective security instead of fragmentation. South Asia needs a collective counterterrorism framework; without this, it is impossible to dismantle those hiding under the masks of civilians, eroding the unity and security of South Asia.
The author is a recent graduate in International Relations. Her research interests include peacebuilding, climate change, diplomacy, and South Asian politics. She focuses on the intersection of global affairs and sustainable development, with particular attention to how regional dynamics shape international security and cooperation.
