Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al Khawarij, emerged in 2007. It has gained strength with time, and its violence against the state has increased since the arrival of the Afghan Taliban 3.0 in Kabul in 2021. The Afghan Taliban and the TTP are the opposite sides of the same coin. The former provides safe havens and logistical support to the latter, and the latter draws inspiration from the former.
“The Afghan Taliban and the TTP are the opposite sides of the same coin.”
Since the emergence of the media wing of the TTP, known as Umer Media, it has been endeavouring to influence the hearts and minds of the indigenous people, particularly those in the merged districts, through social media platforms. Similarly, it is trying to exploit the marginalization, deprivation, and underdevelopment of the locals. Further, it is attempting to create a rift and fuel mistrust between the armed forces and the locals, as the latter play a crucial role in providing intelligence information to the armed forces.
In this way, it is trying to create impediments to the security forces’ counterterrorism efforts in the merged districts. It is evident from a few facts. For instance, Muhammad Khorasani, the mouthpiece of the TTP, has recently expressed the TTP’s opposition to military operations in Waziristan in a statement issued through its Umer Media dated July 3, 2025. Through this statement, the TTP has tried to build propaganda against the state’s counterterrorism efforts.
Therefore, it is mentioned in the statement that the military of Pakistan is plotting against the tribals and their resources by launching a military operation, and this plan has been accelerated after the field marshal, Asim Munir, visited the US this year in July. In brief, the TTP is attempting to ignite the local people against the state through its propaganda to sabotage the counter-terrorism efforts.
Furthermore, the TTP is trying to play a dubious game with the state. On the one hand, it has released a two-page bi-annual infographic for 2025, detailing its illegal and unjustified operations, which mentions the damage it has caused to the Amman (Peace) committee, primarily active in the merged districts. On the flip side, it has refused to take responsibility for the deaths of some members of the peace committee who are raising their voice for peace.
“The TTP is attempting to ignite the local people against the state through its propaganda.”
During the recent tragic incident of Maulana Khan Zaib in the merged district of Bajaur, the TTP issued a statement on the 10th of July in which it refused to take responsibility for Khan Zaib’s death, a voice of peace. It seems like a bluff to create distrust between the state and local people. After Khan Zaib’s death, his son put the entire blame on the security forces. Similarly, the local people have raised slogans after Khan Zaib’s death that the men in uniform are behind the terrorism. This is precisely what the Fitna al Khawarij desires.
Additionally, the TTP issued another statement on July 11, in which it attempted to portray its greater influence through propaganda, primarily to deter the undeterred Pakistani security forces. However, its bluff attempt was exposed by its major affiliated group, known as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.
The TTP has claimed that Qari Shakeel group’s Amir Abu Marwan Shah, along with his followers, joined the TTP in the Wilayat (Province) of Charsadda, which Jamaat-ul-Ahrar rejected through its statement issued by Ghazi Media Network on the same date of July, in which it was mentioned that Qari Shakil is one of our founding members. Abu Marwan Shah is neither a part of the Qari Shakeel group nor our representatives, labelling the TTP’s claim as baseless.
Moreover, the government should realize that counterterrorism is not solely about bullets and guns. However, winning the hearts and minds of the local population is critical in counterterrorism. The local population’s support is indispensable to carrying out successful counterterrorism efforts. For decades, the securitising actors have been unable to convince the locals, particularly the people of the merged districts, that the TTP is a grave threat to their peace and stability.
Therefore, they need to lend their support to the security forces to crush the militants. Similarly, there is a dire need to engage the local community in counterterrorism efforts because the support of the local community can be a game-changer in dealing with the Fitna al Khawarij. Finally, the government should expose the propaganda of the TTP, particularly through awareness campaigns, social media platforms, and through other fifth-generation war tactics.
“Counterterrorism is not solely about bullets and guns, winning the hearts and minds of locals is critical.”
The TTP is disseminating propaganda against the state and attempting to win the hearts and minds of the locals, as evident in its statements. Similarly, the TTP is trying to employ a bluffing tactic against the state, primarily to incite local people against the security forces and to create a rift and distrust between the locals and the state. However, the people should understand the malicious intentions of the TTP and should stand with the state to crush these militants, who have no religion, caste, or creed.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
