Amid escalating concerns over the resurgence of jihadist groups in Pakistan’s volatile border regions, reliable ground sources have reported sightings of top Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) commanders in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. These developments suggest a potential regrouping of the militant outfit, which has been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks across South and Central Asia, including in Pakistan itself.
The reports come at a time when regional powers, including the Afghan Taliban, accuse Pakistan of providing safe havens to ISIS-K elements, further straining already tense cross-border relations.

According to journalist and former soldier Adil Raja, sources on the ground claim that Shahab al-Muhajir, the current emir of ISIS-K, remains in Pakistan’s Balochistan province despite being forced to relocate following an attack on a group hideout. Al-Muhajir, also known as Sanaullah Ghafari, was appointed leader in June 2020 by ISIS core leadership and has been designated a global terrorist by the United States, with a $10 million bounty on his head for information leading to his capture. Raja’s post on X highlights that evidence supporting these claims can be provided upon request, underscoring the gravity of the intelligence.

In a parallel development, another senior ISIS-K commander, Sultan Aziz Azzam, was reportedly spotted in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts during a visit to operational hideouts. Azzam, who has served as the group’s spokesperson since its inception in Afghanistan, was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. in 2021. The sightings indicate that several high-ranking ISIS-K figures have fled Balochistan to seek refuge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following violent assaults on their positions, fueling fears of a renewed operational footprint in Pakistan’s tribal belt.

These claims align with broader accusations from the Afghan Taliban. In a recent statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid alleged that ISIS-K leaders and members have been transferred from Afghanistan to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan with the assistance of intelligence agencies, ostensibly to destabilize the region.
This echoes ongoing tensions, as Pakistan has conducted airstrikes into Afghanistan targeting suspected ISIS-K and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts, while Kabul denies harboring militants and points fingers back at Islamabad.

ISIS-K, established in 2015 as a branch of the Islamic State, has expanded its operations beyond Afghanistan, conducting mass-casualty attacks in Pakistan, Iran, and Russia.The group has suffered significant setbacks from U.S., Afghan, and Pakistani forces but continues to recruit and execute operations, often exploiting ethnic and sectarian divisions. Recent analyses from think tanks like the Wilson Center and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point warn of ISIS-K’s transnational ambitions, including potential attacks in the West, as evidenced by the 2024 Moscow concert hall massacre attributed to the group.

In Pakistan, ISIS-K’s presence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is particularly alarming given the provinces’ history of insurgency and resource-rich terrains. Balochistan, plagued by separatist movements, has seen ISIS-K exploit local grievances, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal areas remain hotspots for cross-border militancy. Critics, including replies to Raja’s post, allege that elements within Pakistan’s military may be complicit, using such groups to clear mineral-rich areas or as proxies in regional power plays.

The Pakistani government has not yet responded to these specific reports, but military operations against ISIS-K and affiliated groups continue. A September 2025 column in Homeland Security Today noted a surge in terrorist violence in Pakistan linked to regional power shifts, with ISIS claiming responsibility for attacks amid persistent jihadist presence.

As ISIS-K seeks to rebuild, experts urge enhanced intelligence sharing between Pakistan and Afghanistan to counter the threat. Failure to do so could exacerbate instability, drawing in global powers and prolonging the cycle of violence in this strategically critical region. SoldierSpeaks.org will continue monitoring developments and provide updates as more evidence emerges.