Pakistan, July 25 -- The assassination of Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar in Mastung has opened a new and potentially more dangerous front in Pakistan's counterterrorism campaign: the use of competing militant identities to protect political affiliates all the while complicating the state's response.

Judge Kakar and his police guard were killed on July 23 when armed men ambushed the judicial officers' vehicle travelling from Quetta to Mastung. Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari was also critically injured. The judges were on their way to perform official duties at the Sessions Court.

The selection of the target was significant and gave the whiff of a new script at play. Terrorist groups in Pakistan have frequently attacked police...