Iran vs Pakistan: Who Runs the Bigger Militant Network?
Iran vs Pakistan: Who Runs the Bigger Militant Network? A Geopolitical Comparison In global security debates, two countries are repeatedly discussed when analysts talk about state-linked militant ecosystems : Iran and Pakistan . Both countries have been accused by international observers of allowing or supporting militant organizations for strategic goals . But their methods, scale, and global reach are very different. Let’s examine the facts. 1. Iran: The Architect of a Regional Proxy Network Iran’s strategy revolves around proxy warfare — building armed groups across the Middle East that fight Iran’s rivals. The main organization managing this system is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , particularly its external operations branch, the Quds Force . Key groups connected to Iran’s network Major militant groups linked to Iran include: Hezbollah (Lebanon) Hamas (Gaza) Palestinian Islamic Jihad Houthi movement (Yemen) Iraqi militias such as Kata'i...