THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
In May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor after 26 tourists were killed in a terrorist attack at Pahalgam. This operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province. The strikes were so effective that they forced major terrorist groups to pack up and move their camps to safer locations.
Two main terrorist organizations – Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen – are now relocating their terror camps from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, which is deeper inside Pakistan.
Why Are They Moving?
The terrorist groups are moving for simple survival reasons:
(1) Safety First
After Operation Sindoor, the camps in PoK became too risky. Indian forces had shown they could reach and destroy these facilities, so staying there meant certain destruction.
(2) Better Protection
Moving deeper into Pakistan gives them more distance from the Indian border. It’s like putting more walls between yourself and your enemy.
(3) Closer to Friends
The new locations in KPK are closer to Afghan-based terrorist networks, giving them better support and cooperation.
Moving entire terror operations costs a lot of money. The groups are funding this massive relocation through:
(1) Digital Money Networks
JeM raised about money using digital wallets like EasyPaisa and SadaPay. They’re essentially crowdfunding terrorism through mobile apps, making it harder for international authorities to track the money.
(2) Government Help
Intelligence reports show Pakistan’s spy agency (ISI) is helping these groups build new financial systems and providing logistical support.
(3) Modern Banking Tricks
They use sophisticated digital hawala systems – basically underground banking networks that avoid official financial institutions.
Pakistan’s Double Game
Pakistan plays a confusing double role in this story. On one hand, they deny supporting terrorism and claim they are victims of terror attacks themselves. This isn’t entirely false – Pakistan does suffer from domestic terrorism, with over thousands civilians killed in recent years.
But on the other hand, Pakistan’s own Defense Minister admitted in 2025 that they supported terrorist groups for thirty years. The evidence shows Pakistan continues to help these groups relocate and rebuild, even while claiming innocence.
What This Means
The relocation of these terror camps shows several important things:
(1)Operations Continue
Despite international pressure and military strikes, terrorist organizations adapt and survive by moving their operations.
(2) State Support Works
The smooth relocation process proves these groups have significant backing from Pakistan’s government agencies.
(3) Technology Helps Terror
Modern digital payment systems are making it easier for terrorist groups to raise and move money without detection.
(4) Regional Instability
As long as these camps exist and operate, they will continue to threaten regional peace and security.
This relocation is not just about moving buildings and people. It represents a calculated strategy to preserve terrorist capabilities while avoiding immediate threats. The new locations in KPK provide these groups with:
(a) Greater distance from Indian military reach
(b) Better access to Afghan terrorist networks
(c) Continued Pakistani state protection
(d) More sophisticated funding mechanisms
Conclusion
The movement of terror camps from PoK to KPK after Operation Sindoor reveals the adaptive nature of modern terrorism. These organizations combine old-fashioned survival instincts with new-age digital financing to maintain their operations despite military pressure.
Pakistan’s role remains central to this story – simultaneously claiming victimhood while providing the infrastructure and support that makes this relocation possible. Until this double game ends, terrorist organizations will continue to find safe havens and rebuild their capabilities, regardless of where they set up their camps.
The international community must recognize that fighting terrorism requires addressing not just the terrorist groups themselves, but also the state sponsors who enable their survival and growth.
Reference
1.https://mybs.in/2eq9bkx
2.https://www.newindian.in/jem-and-hizbul-mujahideen-shift-bases-from-pok-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa/
3.https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2025/09/20/po-k-vulnerable-to-indian-strikes-jaish-e-mohammed-and-hizbul-mujahideen-shifting-bases-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa.html
4.https://bharatshakti.in/why-pakistan-terror-groups-are-shifting-bases-to-khyber-pakhtunkhwa/
5.https://idrw.org/jem-hizbul-mujahideen-shifting-bases-from-pok-following-op-sindoor/
6.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaish-e-Mohammed
