Just when we thought peace had been achieved and the head of extremism cut off, the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) struck back with their merciless attack on a mosque in Peshawar. With the suicide attack in the house of God, that led to the killing of more than a hundred innocent namazis, the TPP announced its resurgence in the country.
The TTP has remained one of the major threats to the national security of Pakistan. The militant group was established in 2007 with the sole aim of armed struggle against Pakistan’s security forces and establishing an Islamic political system in Pakistan with their conservative interpretation of Shariah. The TTP’s ideology is inspired by the Taliban and Al Qaeda, whereas the group is also perceived as an extension of both. It has long enjoyed local support in the frontier regions of Pakistan. However, following military operations in 2014, TTP militants were eliminated from the erstwhile FATA. The security forces were successful in restoring peace and order in the tribal region, while the political parties paved the way for peace and prosperity through the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, the resurgence of TTP is posing a threat to the short-lived peace in the country.
The last year or so has witnessed a significant increase in terrorist attacks by TTP militants. It is believed that TTP fighters have been emboldened by the victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan and by the withdrawal of the USA. During the first year of the Taliban rule in Kabul, Pakistan witnessed a 51 percent increase in terrorist activities. Following the failure of the ceasefire, in the spring of 2022, the TTP launched “Al-Badr”, a military offensive against Pakistan. TTP claims that its fighters have carried out 367 terrorist attacks in 2022. According to the report by PIPS, TTP carried out most of the terrorist attacks in the year 2022. In the current phase of insurgency, TTP conducted one of the major attacks last December when members of the group took hostages inside the Counter Terrorism Department of Bannu.
Although a military operation against TTP is inescapable, it may lead to more burden on the already shaky economy of the country. Pakistan needs to gather international support against the TTP and put pressure on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to act against the sanctuaries of the TTP inside Afghanistan.
With the rise of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, it was propagated that Pakistan would be the main benefactor of the Taliban government. On the contrary, Pakistan and Afghanistan are on the brink of a possible major crisis due to the issue of the TTP. Afghan Taliban and the TTP have strong ideological connections due to which the militant group finds shelter in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban rule in Kabul, the TTP’s attacks in Pakistan have increased, cross-border tensions along Durand Line have escalated, and the movement of banned outfits along the Pak-Afghan border has intensified. After the US invasion of Afghanistan, the TTP provided shelter and operational bases to the Afghan Taliban in the tribal region; in return the TTP expects the same from the Afghan Taliban.
In the Doha agreement, the Afghan Taliban assured Pakistan that the TTP would not be allowed to conduct terrorist activities against Pakistan from the soil of Afghanistan. On the contrary, the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan has increased significantly during the Taliban government. The Afghan Taliban also offered to mediate talks between the TTP and Pakistan as it believes that dialogue is the only way to resolve the TTP problem. According to reports, three rounds of talks were held leading to the ceasefire. However, the TTP ended the ceasefire in November 2022, urging its fighters to wage attacks across Pakistan.
In the wake of the Taliban regime established in Afghanistan, the TTP remains a major hurdle between Islamabad and Kabul. As the TTP intensified its attacks against Pakistan, the two neighbouring countries find each other in a diplomatic bind. The re-emergence of the TTP is worrisome for both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad and Kabul cannot have independent and friendly relations as long as there is a looming threat from the TTP. Therefore, the Taliban must ensure the elimination of TTP strongholds from inside Afghanistan and curb any support for the TTP from within their own ranks.
The sudden rise of the TTP is detrimental to Pakistan’s security and economy. Pakistan’s economy is already facing challenges with foreign reserves at their lowest. The worsening law and order situation in the country is only going to exacerbate the economic condition of the country. Although a military operation against TTP is inescapable, it may lead to more burden on the already shaky economy of the country. Pakistan needs to gather international support against the TTP and put pressure on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to act against the sanctuaries of the TTP inside Afghanistan. It must not be allowed to recapture strongholds in Pakistan and sabotage peace. Pakistan’s security and political leadership needs to unite on a single-page agenda to deal with the threat of TTP and end this battle once and for all.
