Militant groups

Pakistan-based militant groups & prospects of their integration: a structural analysis

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Abstract Different militant streams operating in Pakistan are characterized respectively by conventional jihadist groups – established to safeguard the state’s strategic interests in the region; independent militant groups – formed by the militants who grew in the folds of or parallel to conventional groups but gradually formed their separate groups such as tribal Taliban militant … Read more

Bloodshed in Balochistan

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Contrary to the Balochistan government’s claims of restoration of peace and rooting out terrorist activities in the province, acts of terrorism continued to be reported throughout 2016. Although, in the wake of the National Action Plan (NAP), violence by separatist insurgents receded to some extent, attacks by banned sectarian and other militant extremist groups rose. … Read more

Bordering on blame game

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With several attacks along Pakistan’s western border with Afghanistan, security remained fragile in 2016.The most prominent attack was a suicide bomb during Friday prayers in a mosque in late September, killing 34 people. The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility, arguing the naïve notion that the slain people were part of the pro-government … Read more

Pakistan in Saudi-led anti-terrorism alliance?: Background

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On 15 December, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a military alliance against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Daesh. To the surprise of Pakistan, it too was included in the alliance. Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Office later clarified that it is still looking into the details of the role … Read more

Stopping the banned groups

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While the NAP lays down a comprehensive framework for combating the entire spectrum of the terrorist threat in Pakistan, its seventh point calls for taking steps against “re-emergence of banned militant organizations.” Clampdown Almost immediately after NAP was released in January, a spurt of activity followed. Sub committees headed by federal ministers to monitor each … Read more