Terrorism Linked to Pakistan Poses Major Threat to South Asia, Experts Warn

Kathmandu, July 9 — A high-level seminar held in Kathmandu today highlighted growing concerns about terrorism in South Asia, with experts warning that Pakistan-based terrorism poses a serious threat to peace and security across the region.

Organized by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), the seminar titled “Terrorism in South Asia: Challenges to Regional Peace and Security” brought together political leaders, security experts, former ministers, and academics. The event drew over 150 participants, including diplomats, policymakers, civil society members, and journalists.

Dr. Pramod Jaiswal, Research Director at NIICE, stated that Pakistan has long served as a hub for terrorist groups in South Asia. He referred to a recent public statement by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who admitted that the country had supported and trained terrorists for nearly 30 years to serve Western interests.

Panelists also raised concerns about how groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)—both designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations—continue to operate from Pakistan and may use Nepal as a transit route.

Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Advisor to Nepal’s President and a former Minister, noted these groups’ links to Al-Qaeda and the potential risks they pose to India and the broader region.

Former Defence Minister Minendra Rijal warned that any terrorist attack on India would have ripple effects on Nepal. He also criticized Pakistan’s actions for paralyzing regional cooperation through SAARC and stalling economic integration. Rijal called for a unified global response to terrorism, similar to the solidarity shown after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.

Other speakers, including lawmaker Chanda Chaudhary, stressed the need to tackle financial networks that fund terrorism, particularly through money laundering. Former Minister Shisir Khanal praised India’s swift and firm response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and emphasized the importance of strong counter-terrorism measures.

Dinesh Bhattarai, a former diplomat and advisor, described the Pahalgam attack as one of the deadliest in recent years, noting that the victims were targeted and killed after being asked about their religion.

Former Foreign Minister NP Saud urged Nepal and other regional players to develop a clear strategy to combat terrorism, warning that such threats impact everyone, regardless of borders. Retired Major General Purna Silwal added that inconsistent approaches and double standards in counter-terrorism only weaken global efforts.

Ambassador Madhu Raman Acharya, former Foreign Secretary of Nepal, emphasized the need for better intelligence sharing and joint border patrols between Nepal and India. “In the fight against terrorism, we stand with India,” he stated.

Sumitra Karki, Director at NIICE, pointed to past incidents like the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 from Kathmandu and the recent Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians—including one Nepali citizen—as reminders of Nepal’s vulnerability.

The seminar concluded with a call for stronger regional cooperation, better intelligence coordination, and consistent policy measures to counter the growing threat of terrorism in South Asia.

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