Pakistan risks losing control of key jihadist groups

Significance

Separately, the authorities gave imprisoned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed an additional jail sentence in April. LeT is among the jihadist groups that Pakistan has historically sponsored to operate in Kashmir, a region over which it disputes sovereignty with India.

Impacts

• The mediatory role played by Afghanistan’s Taliban government in the Pakistan-TTP talks should help ease the strain in Kabul-Islamabad ties.
• Pakistan will step up efforts to improve relations with the United States.
• Washington will react cautiously to outreach from Islamabad, especially as it is unsure how stable the new government is.