Pakistani intelligence alleges India-Taliban nexus behind Balochistan attacks

Pakistani intelligence sources have alleged the existence of a coordinated network involving India and senior elements

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani intelligence sources have alleged the existence of a coordinated network involving India and senior elements of the Afghan Taliban, which they claim is being used to facilitate militant attacks and destabilisation efforts in Balochistan.

According to documents and briefings reviewed by media and shared by Pakistani security sources, the alleged network involved a series of meetings and contacts during 2025 and 2026 aimed at arranging funding, weapons, manpower and logistical support for militant groups operating against Pakistan.

The sources alleged that the network involved members or factions linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The allegations further claim that India’s external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), provided financial assistance, while elements associated with the Taliban administration allegedly facilitated weapons and other logistical arrangements from Afghan territory.

According to the alleged intelligence assessment, several important meetings were held during May, July and August 2026. The meetings allegedly focused on the supply of assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition, as well as the recruitment and movement of fighters.

The document reportedly describes an arrangement under which different militant groups would perform separate roles in attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistani sources allege that TTP and AQIS-linked fighters were involved in manpower, training and operational support, while BLA members could claim responsibility for attacks.

One of the incidents cited in the alleged intelligence assessment is the September 2026 violence around Ziarat in Balochistan. Pakistani sources claim that the attack was part of the wider network and allege that TTP-linked elements were involved despite responsibility being publicly attributed to the BLA.

The broader security situation in Balochistan intensified in early September, with Pakistani authorities reporting a series of militant attacks and counterterrorism operations. On September 4, the military said security forces had killed 48 militants in operations across Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi.

Pakistani authorities have repeatedly accused India of supporting militant groups operating in Balochistan and have also raised concerns about militants using Afghan territory. Indian authorities have rejected such allegations, while the Taliban administration has repeatedly denied allowing Afghan soil to be used for attacks against neighbouring countries.

The latest allegations remain based primarily on intelligence documents and briefings shared by Pakistani sources. The documents cited in the reports have not been independently verified, and the reported claims regarding specific individuals, funding arrangements and operational coordination remain allegations rather than independently established facts.

Pakistani security officials say intelligence gathering and information-sharing efforts are continuing to identify and disrupt alleged cross-border facilitation networks. Authorities maintain that counterterrorism operations will continue against militant groups involved in attacks in Balochistan and other parts of the country.

The allegations, if substantiated, would point to a complex network involving multiple militant organisations and cross-border facilitation. However, independent verification of the specific claims contained in the alleged intelligence assessment remains necessary.