The problem of terrorist activities in Pakistan is becoming increasingly severe. There are tens of thousands of religious schools in the country that operate independently from government oversight, and they continue to contribute to the promotion of extremism and radicalism. These schools serve as the primary breeding grounds for extremism and are responsible for its proliferation in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Pakistani government is aware of the origins of terrorists and extremists, yet it has been unsuccessful in effectively addressing the issue.
Religious institutions hold significant influence in Pakistan, with certain powerful parties like Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam openly supporting extremism, and many religious schools providing support to individuals involved in such activities. The recent actions taken by Islamabad against extremist religious schools can be seen as a move to confront these influential Islamist-extremist parties. However, given that Islamabad and the military in Rawalpindi are already engaged in warfare against the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic States-Khorasan (ISIS-K), Balochistan Liberation Army, and other armed groups, as well as being involved in a political conflict with the popular Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party led by Imran Khan, the former prime minister, they are not currently prioritizing a direct confrontation with Islamist parties and religious schools. In the short term, Islamabad aims to address terrorism through military operations and by declaring “Jihad” as illegitimate on Pakistani soil. This approach temporarily resolves the issue rather than controlling it through the regulation of religious schools.
One of the measures being taken by Islamabad is to exert pressure on the Afghan Taliban to issue a directive prohibiting “Jihad” in Pakistan. According to a report from Express Tribune, a Pakistani media outlet, Islamabad is seeking for the Afghan Taliban to publicly announce the order from Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Supreme Leader of the group, regarding the prohibition of Jihad in Pakistan. The report, citing sources, states that this order was issued by Mullah Hibatullah under pressure from Islamabad and is currently being circulated among the Afghan Taliban, although it has not yet been officially announced. Islamabad hopes that the publication of this order will enhance Pakistan’s security in light of the upcoming important elections in the country.
According to former Chief of the Pakistan Army, Qamar Javed Bajwa, the TTP and Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan are closely connected. They are like two sides of the same coin, always standing behind each other rather than facing each other. Even if the Afghan Taliban leaders temporarily stop supporting the TTP due to pressure from Islamabad, they will ultimately remain united. The bond between the fighters of these two groups is so strong that it cannot be weakened by the pressures of Islamabad or even the orders of Mullah Hibatullah. The Afghan Taliban view the Pakistani Taliban as their own, as they have provided significant support during the war against the Afghan government and offered them a safe haven. They even have familial ties and marriages between their families. These relationships are so deep-rooted that they cannot be severed by the influence of Islamabad.
However, it is important to note that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) currently holds a similar position to that of the Afghan Taliban group in the past two decades. The TTP is an extremist and jihadist group that emerged from the tribal regions and considers the established government as un-Islamic and illegitimate. They view engaging in jihad against the government as their own duty and the duty of all Muslims. Consequently, if the TTP leaders were to comply with Mullah Hibatullah’s order to cease fighting, it would result in the dissatisfaction of numerous active fighters within the group. These fighters, observing the “legitimate” and “rewarded” jihad waged by the Afghan Taliban against the Afghan government, would be motivated to view engaging in jihad against the Pakistani government as obligatory, legitimate, and rewarding. It is worth noting that this perspective is less aligned with Islamic principles compared to the previous government of Afghanistan.
If such an order were to cause dissatisfaction among the fighters towards TTP leaders, they would likely join forces with other Takfiri groups. We have seen a similar situation occur in Afghanistan and Pakistan. No matter what Mullah Hibatullah’s order may be, it will not be able to change the mindset of these extremists. Therefore, making Mullah Hibatullah’s requested decree public and issuing similar decrees will not eradicate radicalism, which is the primary issue in Pakistan. These measures may provide temporary solutions, such as creating a relatively peaceful environment for Pakistan’s upcoming elections, although this outcome also appears unlikely.
The issue of insecurity caused by terrorism and fundamentalism in Pakistan did not originate with TTP, so its eradication alone will not solve the problem. In addition to TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army is currently engaged in a tense conflict with the government. Reports suggest that they have established bases in the border regions of Iran and operate from there. The presence of Al-Qaeda and ISIS-K in Pakistan is also a cause for concern. Other groups like Jundullah have fighters in Pakistan as well. The number of Pakistani terrorist groups, such as The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, is not limited to just one or two. Therefore, the recent decree issued by Mullah Hibatullah, which may challenge the religious legitimacy of the regime under his control, will not have any impact on groups like ISIS-K in Pakistan. It is worth noting that the most significant and deadliest attacks in Pakistan have been carried out by ISIS-K, which views the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, as well as the government in Islamabad, as its enemies.
Pakistan appears to be facing a challenging future. It lacks the capability to combat the proliferation of fundamentalist organizations and eliminate numerous terrorist groups operating within its borders. The fact that Pakistani generals are compelled to comply with the demands of the Afghan Taliban highlights their difficult position and inability to effectively address the situation. However, such actions alone cannot rescue Pakistan. The country already has a significant number of religious schools operating independently from government oversight, which are actively indoctrinating a new generation of fundamentalists. Consequently, the Pakistani government’s future struggle will likely involve dealing with the current students of these schools.
Read this article in Farsi here.
