Split in militants?

If purpose is to eradicate militancy from its roots, time is ripe to strike the anvil while groups are still dispersed

The Jamatul Ahrar claimed its first attack in Mohmand Agency on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by targeting a vehicle of the security forces. The militant group which is the new breakaway faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as one of the most serious threats to national security, considering the groups that are included within this umbrella organisation and their previous roles.

While tensions on the Durand Line have increased with more than twelve instances of cross-border attacks in the last two months, the reemergence of the militant leadership in their respective areas after operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched in North Waziristan, threatens not only the local populace which have been displaced for years but points towards a larger problem with the Afghan Taliban gaining momentum across the border.

The Jamatul Ahrar has been very clear about its objectives in an hour and a half long video message, which is to implement the already tested model of ‘Islamic Emirates’, an allusion to the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The video message has all the undertones of a transitional jihadist movement.

Qasim Khursani, who has been appointed as the new Amir of the group, previously headed the Ahrarul Hind, a militant group which was opposed to talks with the government and struck right in the heart of the capital Islamabad by targeting the High Court. In its ranks are powerful militant commanders like Omar Khalid Khusarani, the Amir of the Mohmand Taliban, Qari Shakil and others who have had strong ties to groups like al Qaeda.

While the TTP has split under the leadership of Mulla Fazlullah, the smaller urbanised groups have aligned with larger groups from the tribal belt excluding both the Waziristans. This does not only forebode a larger turf war in cities like Karachi, where militant groups have established themselves over time but in other parts of the country where they have carried out targeted attacks together.

If the purpose is to eradicate militancy from its roots, the time is ripe to strike the anvil, while the groups are still dispersed. The operation will need to be expanded but not in the tribal areas alone.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2014.

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