The arrest of Bangladeshi nationals with alleged ties to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not an isolated incident—it is a wake-up call. Reports from Bangladesh’s National Security Intelligence (NSI) reveal that at least 25 Bangladeshi citizens are actively collaborating with Fitna-a-l-Khawarij (FAK), a TTP-linked faction. In July 2025, Bangladeshi authorities arrested two significant figures: 33-year-old Ahmed Foysal and 48-year-old Dr. Shamin Mahfuz, the latter being the founder of Jamaat ul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAFHS). Dr. Shamin’s role highlights the alarming spread of extremist ideologies across South Asia, stretching beyond national boundaries and feeding into a growing transnational terror ecosystem.

What makes these arrests particularly concerning is the broader context. Afghan authorities had previously expelled some Bangladeshi nationals into Pakistan, underscoring how terrorist groups are no longer limited to their original geographies but are instead forming multi-national linkages. For the TTP, traditionally focused on Pakistan, this expansion signals an evolution into a transnational actor capable of exporting violence across borders. This development should worry not only Pakistan but also the wider region, where fragile borders and competing political agendas often create fertile ground for extremism.

For too long, terrorism in South Asia has been framed narrowly as a “Pakistan problem.” This reductionist view has often been shaped by selective media narratives, particularly from India, which has amplified reports of arrests in Bangladesh to once again paint Pakistan as the hub of terrorism. Yet such framing ignores two critical realities.

First, Bangladeshi militants linked to TTP and FAK have been operating independently in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Their activities are not coordinated from Pakistan but are rather a reflection of extremist ideologies transcending geography. Second, Pakistan’s own counter-terrorism record tells a different story—one of resilience, sacrifice, and sustained campaigns against all shades of militancy, including the TTP itself.

Since the launch of the National Action Plan (NAP) in 2014, Pakistan has pursued one of the most comprehensive counter-terrorism strategies in the region. Operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad targeted militant sanctuaries, cross-border infiltration routes, and sleeper cells. These operations not only disrupted the operational capacity of terrorist groups but also forced many of them to flee into Afghanistan, a fact repeatedly acknowledged by international observers.

In May 2025, Pakistan went a step further by establishing the National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (NIFTAC) under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). This body consolidates intelligence-sharing across security agencies, enabling swift responses to both local and foreign extremist threats. With such mechanisms in place, Pakistan has significantly reduced the operational space available to militants, leaving little room for foreign nationals to exploit its territory.

The global community has recognized these efforts. The UN Analytical and Monitoring Team’s 36th Report, released in July 2025, explicitly acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism. The report also highlighted the threats posed by TTP and its affiliates based in Afghanistan, a crucial reminder that Pakistan is often on the receiving end of terrorism exported from across its western border.

Despite these realities, the terrorism narrative in South Asia is frequently politicized. Indian media’s selective amplification of the arrests in Bangladesh is a case in point. By framing Pakistan as the perpetual villain, such narratives divert attention from the fact that extremist networks today are transnational, fluid, and adaptive.

This politicization not only hampers regional counter-terrorism cooperation but also benefits terrorist organizations themselves. By exploiting mistrust between states, groups like TTP, ISKP, and their affiliates find space to maneuver, recruit, and expand. What should be a collective fight against a shared enemy is too often reduced to a blame game shaped by geopolitical rivalries.

The involvement of Bangladeshi nationals in TTP-linked activities raises pressing concerns for regional stability. It demonstrates that extremist ideologies are spreading across South Asia’s porous borders, feeding on social grievances, weak governance, and regional mistrust. More importantly, it signals that the terrorism threat is no longer local but regional, and increasingly, global.

The arrests in Dhaka are a stark reminder of the evolving face of terrorism in South Asia. By embedding themselves in multiple countries, groups like TTP are positioning themselves as regional actors with global ambitions. Pakistan’s record—backed by international recognition—shows that it has consistently chosen the hard path of resistance against these threats.

But resilience in isolation is not enough. Without a collective regional and international approach, the threat will continue to mutate, destabilizing not just Pakistan but the entire South Asian region. The choice before regional actors is clear: to move beyond politicized narratives and recognize terrorism for what it is—a shared, borderless challenge that demands a united response.