The resurgence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) under the Taliban’s ideological protection is reactivating global terror networks across South and Central Asia. This op-ed explores how the TTP’s links with al-Qaeda, ISKP, and TIP make it a transnational threat, one that endangers U.S., Chinese, and regional interests alike, not just Pakistan’s stability.
For two decades, Pakistan has endured TTP-led violence. Now, a rare consensus among Deobandi, Barelvi, and Ahl-e-Hadith scholars delegitimizes the insurgency and redefines jihad versus rebellion.
The 9/11 attacks reshaped global politics and ignited the US-led “War on Terror.” Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslims worldwide faced rising Islamophobia, systemic discrimination, and cultural vilification. This era marked the transformation of prejudice into an entrenched political and social structure across the West.
Unlike its peak years of 2007–2009, the TTP no longer commands territory but operates through small decentralized cells that blend into civilian populations. This shift poses an unprecedented challenge for Pakistan’s security forces, where every strike risks civilian casualties and fuels propaganda. The dilemma is not unique, echoing ISIS in Iraq and Boko Haram in Nigeria, but it demands a collective civil-military response to deny militants both sanctuary and narrative advantage.
The glorification of militants as martyrs by Mufti Kifayatullah reveals a dangerous narrative that mirrors extremist propaganda. From constitutional consensus to historic fatwas by leading scholars, Pakistan’s religious and political mainstream has repeatedly rejected armed rebellion as un-Islamic. By platforming extremist sympathizers, certain nationalist movements risk legitimizing violence, undermining national sacrifices, and enabling the TTP’s attempt to co-opt Pashtun identity. The path forward lies in constitutionalism, peace, and dialogue—not violence.
The case of Dr. Usman Qazi, a university professor arrested for facilitating the BLA, underscores a disturbing trend: the radicalization of Pakistan’s educated youth. From Quaid-e-Azam University students to Shari Baloch’s suicide attack, these examples reveal how the insurgency exploits academic and social networks while pursuing an ethno-fascist campaign of violence.
The August 2025 USA–Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue marked a cooperative reset, targeting major terror groups and modernizing joint strategies.
Balochistan’s insurgency has shifted from tribal uprisings to foreign-backed militancy targeting Pakistan’s strategic assets.
Washington’s FTO listing of the BLA, including the Majeed Brigade, marks a major shift in counter-terror and regional diplomacy.
India has exploited Afghanistan’s chaos for decades, using it as a base for covert operations and proxy warfare against Pakistan.