The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, constituted a pivotal juncture in global history. Approximately, 3,000 lives were lost, when Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked commercial planes and struck the United States at its very foundation. Beyond a mere singular act of violence, 9/11 symbolized the globalization of jihadist networks and triggered an international campaign against terrorism that still shapes global politics today. While Afghanistan, under the Taliban, offered al-Qaeda sanctuary, Pakistan emerged as an operational hub, providing the safe houses, logistics, and ideological infrastructure that enabled the 9/11 plot.

Pakistan as the Militant Incubator

The roots of al-Qaeda’s entrenchment in Pakistan stretch back to the 1980s. Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union. With U.S. and Saudi support, Pakistan trained tens of thousands of mujahideen fighters, establishing a sprawling militant apparatus of madrassas, safe houses, and militia networks. These institutions did not fade after the Cold War; instead, they morphed into a permanent ecosystem of extremism. By the late 1990s, Pakistan’s madrassa system, particularly those aligned with Wahhabi and Deobandi teachings, had produced many Taliban leaders and al-Qaeda operatives. This militant infrastructure engendered the very conditions that enabled al-Qaeda to thrive. Pakistan’s cities, tribal areas, and porous borders became critical spaces for recruitment, logistics, and sanctuary. Far from dismantling these networks, Pakistan’s security establishment nurturedthem as “strategic assets” to project influence in Afghanistan and Kashmir, blurring the line between domestic policy and global jihad.

The Capture of Key Figures in Pakistan

The arrests of top Al-Qaeda leaders on Pakistani soil highlight the country’s centrality to 9/11. Ramzi bin al-Shibh was capture in Karachi in September 2002. As the operational coordinator, he handled finances and communications for the hijackers. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), mastermind of the attacks, was arrested in Rawalpindi in March 2003. Fluent in Urdu and deeply familiar with Pakistan’s militant networks, he used local contacts to move freely while orchestrating the plot. Abu Zubaydah, a senior al-Qaeda facilitator, was captured in Faisalabad in 2002, sheltered in a safe house.

Karachi: The Hidden Nerve Center of 9/11

Karachi functioned as a central hub for the 9/11 plot, where urban anonymity, weak security oversight, and entrenched militant networks created an ideal environment for covert operations. Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, the al-Qaeda courier who later led the CIA to bin Laden, operated safe houses in Karachi where several of the hijackers stayed prior to their departure for the United States. The city also served as the operational hub for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the chief architect of 9/11, and Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who used it to coordinate logistics and training while issuing final instructions to the hijackers. Even in the aftermath of the attacks, Karachi remained central to al-Qaeda’s infrastructure, providing refuge to members of bin Laden’s family in safe houses arranged by KSM. Without Karachi’s networks, the coordination and concealment of the 9/11 plot would have been significantly more difficult.

The Abbottabad Raid and the Double Game

The discrepancies in Pakistan’s counterterrorism stance became irrefutable in May 2011, when Osama bin Laden was discovered living in Abbottabad, barely a mile from a prestigious military academy. The U.S. Navy SEAL raid that killed him confirmed what many had long suspected: Pakistan’s security establishment was either turning a blind eye or actively shielding the world’s most wanted terrorist. This revelation epitomized Pakistan’s double game. Publicly, Islamabad presented itself as a frontline ally of the United States, receiving billions in aid during the War on Terror. Privately, its intelligence agency, the ISI, maintained covert ties with militant groups it considered strategic assets, from the Taliban in Afghanistan to Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir. The 2002 murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Karachi had already revealed the depth of extremist penetration in Pakistan’s urban centers. Together with the Abbottabad raid, it showed that Pakistan was never merely a victim of terrorism, it was also an enabler of the same, permitting Al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations to proliferate under its oversight.

Pakistan’s Paradoxical Role in Global Terrorism After 9/11

Pakistan’s position in global terrorism remains both paradoxical and troubling. On one hand, it has positioned itself as a declared ally of the West, reaping billions in military and economic aid. On the other, it has repeatedly been accused of harboring and supporting groups that threaten global security. The consequences of this duplicity have been devastating. The Abbottabad raid revealed bin Laden’s sanctuary; the Daniel Pearl case underscored extremist networks embedded in cities; and attacks linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba continue to destabilize South Asia. A recent example came on April 22, 2025, when heavily armed militants attacked tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 and injuring more than 20. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. The assault bore the hallmarks of cross-border militancy, deliberately targeting civilians in a non militarized region to generate maximum psychological and international impact. It was yet another reminder of how Pakistan-based groups export violence, even while Islamabad proclaims itself a frontline ally against extremism.

Global Terrorism After 9/11

The 9/11 attacks transformed international security frameworks, prompting NATO’s first-ever invocation of Article 5 and ushering in a global War on Terror. The U.S. expanded counterterrorism operations worldwide, from drone campaigns in Pakistan’s tribal areas to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet far from extinguishing jihadist ideology, these campaigns dispersed and diversified it. Al-Qaeda affiliates and later ISIS adopted the 9/11 blueprint, spreading across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Pakistan’s unresolved duplicity amplified these global risks. By distinguishing between “good” and “bad” militants, supporting groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba while fighting the Pakistani Taliban, it created a permissive environment for extremism to metastasize. The costs of this strategy have been severe: tens of thousands of Pakistanis have died in terrorist attacks since 2001, even as its soil continues to serve as a launchpad for cross-border militancy.  The legacy of 9/11 makes clear that terrorism cannot be fought selectively. Breaking the cycle demands a decisive policy shift in Islamabad. Dismantling all militant infrastructure without exception, reforming madrassa networks to counter extremist indoctrination, and prioritizing rule of law over geopolitical expediency are essential steps. Until Pakistan abandons its reliance on proxies, it will remain not a partner in peace but a persistent epicenter of global insecurity.

Conclusion

From Karachi safe houses used by 9/11 planners to the Abbottabad compound where bin Laden hid for years, Pakistan has been central to the evolution of global terrorism. Its paradoxical policies, ally on paper, enabler in practice, help explain why extremist networks remain resilient nearly a quarter century after 9/11. The 2025 Baisaran Valley attack proves that these threats are not confined to the past; they remain an urgent and destabilizing force today. Unless Pakistan decisively abandons its double game, it will continue to be a central driver of global terrorism rather than a partner in its mitigation.

This image is been taken from Reuters Website