Exposed: The ‘Napak Army’ Propaganda and Its Takfiri Roots

Afghan social media targets Pakistan’s military with Al-Qaeda-inspired “Napak Army” rhetoric echoing TTP’s violent Takfiri legacy. 

Are Afghan Taliban endorsing TTP’s violent legacy, tied to a shared Takfiri ideology with Al-Qaeda?

As 2024 came to a close, and 2025 begins, Afghan social media is once again echoing anti-Pakistan military rhetoric, branding it the “Napak Army” and “Zionist Army”—a narrative rooted in Al-Qaeda’s legacy.

Notably, this divisive propaganda has been systematically adopted over the years by:

• Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
• Baloch terrorist organizations
• Socio-political movements like the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM)
• Afghan Taliban; Although not officials, handles 
• And now, allegedly by supporters of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

By amplifying this narrative, these groups not only undermine Pakistan but implicitly align themselves with takfiri ideology—the ideological backbone of Al-Qaeda—that brands opponents as apostates to justify violence.

Also See: Afghan Social Media Targets Pakistan Army with Al-Qaeda Inspired Propaganda

The Irony: Afghan Taliban’s Role, Proxy Warfare, and Dependency on the West

This amplification of anti-Pakistan narratives is occurring against the backdrop of Mullah Yaqoob’s reported remarks at a Kandahar meeting in late December 2024. 

At this meeting, Yaqoob pushed for unconventional means of warfare against Pakistan to retaliate Pakistan’s precision strikes against the TTP. He openly advocated for the use of proxies like the TTP against Pakistan.

The Afghan Taliban’s strategic endorsement of the TTP as a proxy force against Pakistan is ironic, considering that the same Taliban regime is amplifying anti-Pakistan rhetoric through social media—a digital proxy of sorts.

This emerging digital proxy war, targeting Pakistan and its military on social media, challenges the State’s digital and ideological borders. 

Just as the TTP continues its attacks through physical violence, the Afghan Taliban now appears to be waging a digital war, aiming to destabilize Pakistan ideologically and psychologically. 

What’s More?

Isn’t it ironic that the Afghan Taliban themselves remain heavily dependent on U.S. and international aid despite their vocal anti-Western stance. 

The Interim Taliban government, which portrays itself as a defender of Islamic values against foreign influence, has paradoxically relied on American and Western assistance to sustain its rule. 

This includes vital funding for humanitarian efforts, agricultural programs for women, and economic stabilization, without which Afghanistan’s survival would be in serious jeopardy.

Key figures of U.S. aid to Afghanistan (2024)

• $75 million for agricultural training programs for Afghan women.
• $14.9 million for carpet weaving programs aimed at economic empowerment for women.
• $280 million in cash transfers for food assistance via the United Nations.
• $3.5 billion allocated to the Afghan Fund for economic stability.
• Over $8 billion in humanitarian relief provided by global donors.

Thus, while the Afghan Taliban has denounced foreign powers in rhetoric, it is simultaneously benefiting from U.S.-led aid, exposing the fundamental contradiction in its actions. 

This paradox further undermines their credibility on the international stage, as they continue to claim autonomy while relying on the same Western powers they oppose. 

With regard to the narrative being propagated, here are some key points to consider:

Origins with Al-Qaeda: In the early 2000s, Al-Qaeda popularized this narrative to delegitimize Pakistan’s military by framing it as a collaborator with Western imperialism.

This narrative branded opponents as apostates, forming the foundation of takfiri ideology, which justifies violence against perceived “infidels.”

Adoption by TTP: The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan weaponized the same rhetoric, using it to justify attacks like the APS Peshawar massacre, where 141 children were martyred in cold blood.

The TTP continues to target Pakistan’s sovereignty, exploiting the takfiri framework to justify its actions.

Spread to Baloch Terrorist Organizations: Baloch terrorist groups co-opted the anti-military narrative to challenge Pakistan’s authority in its western regions, amplifying claims of state oppression.

Socio-Political Shift – PTM’s Role: The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement carried this narrative into domestic discourse, leveraging it to highlight alleged ethnic and regional grievances.

Mainstream Political Influence – PTI Supporters’ Endorsement: Recently, alleged supporters of Imran Khan’s PTI have begun amplifying Napak Army and Zionist Army, aligning their rhetoric with extremist narratives. 

Pattern Analysis

This ideological continuum reveals a concerning pattern:

• Extremist Roots (Al-Qaeda, TTP): Justify violence through takfiri ideology.
• Baloch Terrorist Groups: Adopt rhetoric to delegitimize state authority.
• Socio-Political Amplification (PTM): Frame grievances within an anti-state narrative.
• Mainstream Political Adoption (PTI Supporters): Infuse extremist rhetoric into political discourse.

This evolution underscores how takfiri ideology migrates across diverse actors, mutating to suit varied agendas but retaining its divisive core.

The Expansion Pattern Over Time

From Al-Qaeda to TTP, Balochistan Terrorist Groups, Afghan Taliban and now PTI sympathizers, the use of anti-Pakistan propaganda follows a clear pattern of ideological expansion—each group leveraging the “Napak Army” and “Zionist Army” narrative for its own agenda, whether it’s terrorism, ethno-culture/socio-political gains, or political dissent.  

Dual-Edged Warfare: Physical and Digital Proxies

The Afghan Taliban’s dual strategy—using TTP as a physical proxy against Pakistan while simultaneously utilizing social media as a digital proxy—marks a sophisticated evolution of ideological warfare. 

The Afghan Taliban’s tacit approval of this digital proxy war further strengthens the alignment between the Afghan Taliban, TTP and Al-Qaeda’s takfiri ideology. 

Hence the amplification of the “Napak Army”  and “Zionist Army” narrative, particularly as it now involves Afghan Taliban supporters, is more than just rhetoric—it is a direct challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty. 

As Mullah Yaqoob pushes for proxy attacks, the Afghan Taliban-affiliate social media proxies are apparently working to destabilize Pakistan’s public perception, creating ideological rifts. 

The integration of TTP as a physical proxy and their affiliates, including certain factions within the Afghan Taliban, as a digital proxy, reveals the Afghan Taliban’s strategy of leveraging Al-Qaeda’s legacy in both physical and ideological warfare. 

This proves that their rhetoric is not merely a local concern, but a broader regional issue, one that Pakistan must confront on both ideological and digital fronts.

This multi-front assault—a mix of physical violence and digital propaganda—represents a coordinated, multi-layered threat that Pakistan must confront both online and offline. 

The digital proxy now waged by these factions is not just a challenge to Pakistan’s military; it’s an ideological struggle that calls for a robust defense of both territorial sovereignty, ideological integrity and information security.

SAT Commentaries’ are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for website use. Views are their own.

SAT Commentary

SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.

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