A former Pakistan Army officer has made explosive claims alleging that the country’s own security establishment orchestrated terror attacks against its citizens, including the 2014 massacre at the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar. Mudassir Iqbal has accused Pakistan’s military and intelligence services of directing operations that were later blamed on militant groups.
He claimed the APS attack, which left 132 children dead, was not merely the work of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants under Maulana Fazlullah, but was allegedly guided by the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to manipulate public sentiment and discredit the TTP.
Iqbal’s account, reportedly backed by senior intelligence officials, suggests that such attacks follow a calculated “strategic playbook” aimed at advancing political and military objectives. These include consolidating control over volatile regions, weakening legitimate opposition, and testing tactics for potential cross-border use, News18 reported.
Indian intelligence sources have echoed concerns over Pakistan’s continued use of proxy militant groups to carry out domestic attacks while maintaining plausible deniability. Recent incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas show a pattern of coordinated assaults on schools and public spaces, reinforcing suspicions of state involvement.
Experts warn that this approach could lead to further proxy-driven violence, particularly in border regions and minority-populated areas. Delhi is said to be closely monitoring developments, given the potential implications for regional security.
Further, both Indian and Pakistani sources cited the report and agreed that the APS attack and subsequent violence reflect a deliberate strategy of internal terror, with militant outfits allegedly used as instruments and state-controlled media shaping public narratives to portray the violence as insurgent-led.
The allegations, if substantiated, raise serious questions about the role of Pakistan’s security apparatus in domestic unrest and its broader regional intentions.