> Just because something hurt your enemy does not mean it helps you get closer to your goal.

I think that's a good general observation, but a key assumption of terrorism is that hurting your enemy /will/ pressure them to do what you want.

Terrorism is all about out unconventional ways of bringing pain to your enemy, rather than just defeating their military in combat. So I think terrorism can definitely be intended to sow fear, paranoia, overreaction, internal division, etc within the enemy civil society.

Not as the end goal, but as part of the strategy of inflicting paint to pressure them to capitulate.