Baloch human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch urges the Trump administration to reassess Pakistan’s global security role, citing ISI links with extremist groups and calling for Pakistan to be placed at the top of the terror list amid rising international concerns.
A prominent Baloch human rights advocate has called on the United States government to undertake a comprehensive reassessment of Pakistan’s global security role, urging the Donald Trump administration to place Islamabad at the top of the terror list. Mir Yar Baloch, a leading voice for human rights in the conflict-ridden Balochistan region, issued the appeal on Friday, citing a long history of troubling links between Pakistan’s state institutions and extremist organisations.
According to Mir, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its powerful military establishment have repeatedly been identified in international analyses as central hubs in facilitating, harbouring, or enabling extremist networks. He asserted that the gravity of Pakistan’s alleged involvement requires immediate scrutiny by top US security agencies, noting that these concerns have only grown stronger over the past two decades.
In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Mir stated that numerous analysts, intelligence experts, and even former Pakistani officials have publicly acknowledged the ISI’s longstanding ties with extremist groups. He pointed specifically to organisations such as Al-Qaeda, which maintained an extensive presence in Pakistan for years, including key figures linked to the September 11 attacks.
“It has been widely reported that senior Al-Qaeda leadership operated inside Pakistan for more than a decade,” Mir wrote, emphasising that these revelations cannot be dismissed as coincidence or isolated lapses. “The fact that individuals responsible for one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history were able to remain in Pakistan for so long is alarming and deeply concerning,” he added.
Mir referenced the discovery of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in 2011 in Abbottabad, a city home to significant Pakistani military and intelligence facilities. The killing of bin Laden by US Navy SEALs, just a short distance from a major Pakistani military academy, raised global suspicion about whether he was knowingly sheltered by elements within the state. “This proximity alone raises profound and unresolved questions,” Mir said, calling the incident one of the most significant indicators of Pakistan’s opaque relationship with extremist groups.
The activist also highlighted controversial statements made by top Pakistani political and military figures over the years. He cited former President and Army Chief Pervez Musharraf, who openly praised individuals such as Hafiz Saeed and Osama bin Laden, calling them “heroes of Pakistan.” Additionally, he noted remarks made by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who publicly referred to bin Laden as a “martyr,” a statement that sparked international condemnation.
“These statements are not merely slips of the tongue,” Mir asserted. “They reflect an underlying ideological and strategic alignment that must not be ignored by global security institutions.”
Mir further pointed to declarations made by former ISI officials themselves. One example included General Hamid Gul’s controversial statement on ARY News, where he claimed that history would credit the ISI with defeating both the Soviet Union and “indirectly, the United States in Afghanistan.” Mir argued that such remarks bolster long-standing allegations about Pakistan’s role in enabling militant proxies across South Asia.
He also referenced an interview given by former ISI Director Asad Durrani, who admitted that Pakistan had “fooled” the United States during their cooperation in Afghanistan—accepting billions of dollars in aid while maintaining covert ties with the Taliban and other militant groups. “These admissions are not fringe claims. They come from the very individuals who helped shape Pakistan’s intelligence policies,” Mir stressed.
Calling on the Trump administration, the FBI, CIA, and the White House, Mir urged an urgent re-evaluation of Pakistan’s geopolitical and counterterrorism role. He argued that the cumulative weight of expert analysis, intelligence leaks, and public admissions makes it imperative for the US to incorporate these concerns into future national-security planning.
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“Given the seriousness of these long-standing allegations and the potential threat they pose to global security, the United States cannot afford complacency,” Mir said. “A thorough reassessment of Pakistan’s status is essential to ensure the safety and stability of the international community.”
