Strengthening the Use of AI Technology in Pakistan's Counterterrorism Efforts

Reference News Network reported on November 3 An article titled "Pakistan's Artificial Intelligence War" was published on the Diplomat website on October 29, authored by Konwar Shahid. The full translation is as follows:

In its tumultuous history, Pakistan ranked first in the Global Terrorism Index for the first time this year. The country recorded 1,045 terrorist incidents in 2025, resulting in 1,139 related deaths. The death toll further increased in 2026, with the number of people killed in terrorist incidents in the third quarter of this year rising by 83% compared to the second quarter.

The surge in numbers occurs against the backdrop of deteriorating external security. In response to these challenges, Pakistan has gradually incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into its security strategy. Last year, Pakistan announced the "2025 National Artificial Intelligence Policy," which regulates the use of artificial intelligence. The Pakistani military has deployed AI with the help of research institutions, including the Army Emerging Technologies Center and the Air Force's Artificial Intelligence and Computing Center.

Pakistan has also unveiled a series of AI-enabled military weapons, including equipment manufactured by the state-owned Global Industrial and Defense Company. These include unmanned combat aerial vehicles such as the "Shaheen"-2 drone and the "Spider" anti-drone system. During the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, both sides used a large number of drones; in addition to the "Shaheen"-2 drone, Pakistan also deployed the YIHA-3 drone manufactured by the Turkish defense contractor Baykar.

According to the Pakistani Army, drones are being extensively used in border areas adjacent to Afghanistan. An official from the newly established drone department of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police stated, "We face a dual threat from the Afghan Taliban and local terrorist organizations, and we are using drones for surveillance and strikes, especially in remote areas."

Military sources revealed that Pakistan is also set to deploy robots. A senior officer said, "Law enforcement agencies have equipped bomb disposal units with robots. The robots also perform reconnaissance missions, including in border areas. We are currently studying how to have robots lead clearance operations and transport ammunition and supplies in military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan."

Former Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Production, Lieutenant General Talat Masood, stated, "To keep up with India's level and to eradicate terrorist organizations, we have been integrating new technologies into military and law enforcement agencies. However, the biggest challenge is to enhance our capabilities amid resource scarcity and economic difficulties."

Islamabad is promoting the use of facial recognition technology. The country's security agencies are gradually expanding the deployment of this technology to sensitive areas, including border checkpoints and terrorist hotspots.

Abdullah Khan, a security analyst at the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, said, "In the past five years, the trend of all terrorist activities has been on the rise. We can hardly find any successful counter-terrorism cases to measure against. Our country is currently in a reactive mode, while militants are in an offensive mode."

He also stated, "We need to change this situation and enhance our capabilities beyond intelligence gathering and monitoring. When it comes to the practical integration of technology in counter-terrorism operations, we are still in the early stages."

Technology affects the role of the state as a guarantor of citizen safety and freedom, and it is evident that Pakistan is struggling in both areas. (Translation/ Tu Qi)