Pakistan faces blowback as Taliban and TLP defy Islamabad: Crisis-hit ISI set for major shake-up

A general view shows push carts parked at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Torkham on October 13, 2025, amid cross-border clashes between the two countries. (Photo by Abdul MAJEED / AFP)

Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), is facing an unprecedented crisis of control across multiple fronts. Top intelligence sources, as quoted by CNN-News18, indicate that major changes in the military establishment are imminent. “The ISI may see some important transfer postings in a couple of days. The main person who is dealing local politics is called DG-C. Major General Faisal Naseer, who is holding the post for three years, is likely to be transferred soon," said the sources.

The ISI, long the architect and backer of militant networks in the region, including the Deobandi stronghold Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), appears to be losing its influence over both. “However, after four years, it has now pushed for a shift in position and policy towards Afghan Taliban," sources told CNN-News18. This shift comes amid Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, which lasts until October 16, aimed at strengthening Afghanistan-India relations, addressing trade and infrastructure issues, and discussing regional security.

The visit is being viewed as a humiliating setback for Pakistan. Hours after Afghanistan claimed killing 58 Pakistani soldiers in a retaliatory operation, Muttaqi stated from New Delhi that Kabul seeks a peaceful resolution but warned Islamabad that if peace efforts fail, Afghanistan has “other means." He made it clear that any violation of Afghan sovereignty will not be tolerated.

“The ISI has lost control in Kabul too. Muttaqi visited Deoband in India which is major shift in the Afghan Taliban policy. Not only this, Muttaqi even recognised Kashmir as India’s integral part. These developments have given Taliban’s clear message to Rawalpindi an Islamabad in one go," sources told CNN-News18.

The collapse of influence is not limited to the Taliban. Pakistan’s religious party Tehreek-e-Labaik TLP, historically used by the ISI to pressure previous governments, has also slipped from its grasp. “The TLP always played for ISI to pressurise past governments of Nawaz Sharif in 2017 and Imran Khan’s government in 2021. Today, the TLP has turned against the ISI and didn’t obey its order to retreat on Gaza Long March towards Islamabad. That finally resulted in the Muridke massacre," sources said.

According to Indian intelligence sources, as quoted by CNN-News18, “Pakistan’s ISI is facing an unprecedented collapse of influence over both its Deobandi-Taliban-TTP and Barelvi-TLP networks. This is a direct blow to its long-standing religious leverage doctrine." The Taliban’s public recognition of Kashmir as part of India marks another humiliating defeat for Rawalpindi’s hybrid warfare machinery and highlights Islamabad’s dwindling capacity to control the groups it once nurtured as strategic assets.