“Pakistani Army hits Taliban hideouts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 11 killed.”
-Times of India (March 29, 2025)
Introductory Note: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Insurgency
Formerly known as the North-Western Frontier Province (NWFP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , is one of the most talked about province of Pakistan. History books pinpoint it as the birth place of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi), the leader of the Khudai Khidmatgars, who led a separate yet united assault against the British Raj in undivided India. One of the most populated provinces of pre-independent India, Khyber was the most inevitable, inseparable and quintessential bond of Indian unity. But, destiny had something else to offer. And today, we live in a reality where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not on the eastern side of the border, but on the western side.
Going by its geography, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or KP is the third-largest province of Pakistan by population, and is bordered by Balochistan in the south; Punjab, Islamabad and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the eastern front; and bordered by Gilgit-Baltistan to the north and the north-east. Sharing an integral portion of the international border with Afghanistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of most restive, troubled, and fragile provinces of Pakistan. Geographically the smallest, KP comprises of ethnic groups such as- Hindkowans, Saraikis, Chitralis, and the Pashtuns. The ancient learning site of Buddhism and Gandhara (capital- Pushkalvati, nearby situated is Taxila University) lies in this province only.
Troubled by various invasions since the ancient ages through the Khyber Pass, KP today, lies literally on tenterhooks with the Pakistani Army. There has been a recent spate in the conflicts arising in the region between the ethnic communities, and the Pakistani Army itself.
The KP or the NWFP, otherwise the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is significantly related to Taliban, both ideologically and geographically. Bordering Afghanistan, the region shares a rich history with the sprouting of Islamist terror organisations, their functioning, money laundering channels, the renowned Haqqani Network, and what not. Taliban itself is a Pashtun word, meaning ‘disciple’ or student.
The root word, being ‘Talib’ holds special significance in Pakhtunkhwa, much more than anyone can ever imagine. KP shares a significant yet tumultuous bond with Taliban, especially the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), whose sole motive is to overthrow the democratically elected Pakistani government (colloquially controlled by the army chief and deep state of ISI) and impose the strictest interpretation of Sharia, to whatever extent possible. This is the reason why there are recurring news items detailing assaults incurred by the Pakistani Army on KP insurgents and vice-versa.
The Conflicting Bond between Army Establishment and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Insurgents: The Taliban Angle
To understand the various layers of relationship that Taliban shares with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the asymmetric bond shared by Taliban and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa insurgents, the uprisings in the region itself; one needs to understand the very origin of Taliban, especially TTP. The Taliban is undoubtedly a Sunni Islamist nationalist and a pro-Pashtun movement, that was founded in the early 1990’s, and the same ruled over Afghanistan from 1996 till 2001. The idea behind Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan which is basically a unified alliance of militant networks, – is to implement their own strict interpretations of the Sharia law and then unite against the Pakistani military, both being the most primary and straight-forward objectives, that sustains them and has sustained them through years.
Taliban, having geographical, topographical, and ideological proximity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, the KP insurgents in turn are then, an obstacle for the Pakistani Army, in their forward march in the region for better control. One of the stated objectives of the TTP also explicitly says that they wish to establish an Islamic Caliphate in Pakistan and for the same, the overthrow of the Pakistani Government, is but essential. The whole of Pakhtunkhwa, generally populated by the Pashtuns (again, a majority in Taliban, itself) support the cause and seek better redressal of their grievances, strengthened control over the administration, and judicial processes, by hook or by crook.
The easiest way and the time-tested way is to go against the Pakistani Army, militarily time and again, by siding with the forces opposing the established Army, such as the TTP and its associates. Otherwise as well, it has been reported that Pakistani Army establishment, the governing administration at the central level, the judicial and bureaucratic posts, have been densely populated by and have found a huge favour amongst the Pakistani punjabis, that has irked other residing ethnicities of Pakistan.
Pashtuns are one of the ethic communities hurt. The all-out war against the armed forces of Pakistan, took shape in the region in the early 1980’s but by 2014, it has been now termed as the- infamous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa insurgency, which is still in an ongoing state, with no point of cessation in sight, at least in the near future.
The very objectives of the TTP, which considers itself as one of the most important groupings under the wider Islamist extremist organisations (on the Pakistani side), are in contradiction with whatever the Pakistani State stands for. The TTP does not only wants to expel the Pakistani government and its reduced influence in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with strict implementation of Islamic Laws, but it also seeks to expel the coalition troops from Afghanistan, which have made Pakistan their safe haven.
Not even a single soul is unaware of the intense war going on between TTP and the Pakistani Army, the present Afghan establishment (branches of Taliban) and the State of Pakistan, as well as between the Taliban in Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, somewhere or the else, the Taliban’s takeover over the central administration of Afghanistan, has emboldened and strengthened the resolve of TTP in their fight against the army in Pakistan.
These militants have wrecked havoc inside the army establishment with even missiles said to have been exchanged between both the parties, and the Army General’s inability to control either of these circumstances. The conflict in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as is understood will have a snowball effect and cause rippling impact in the Pakistan’s internal security regime.
Closing Note: Pakistan’s Internal Threats
Recently, there have been a number of news items, reinforcing the fact that Pakistan is trying desperately to successfully sustain an infiltration bid across LoC, challenge India, and infiltrate foreign militants in the peaceful Jammu and Kashmir region, especially in Kathua, Sambha, et al; all that to distract the international and local media channels from exposing its reduced strengths in the internal security arena.
Pakistan, today, is undoubtedly facing the most dangerous of challenges that it has faced since its independence. As has been reportedly stated in previous research opinions, Pakistan is currently facing repeated attacks, failures and challenges from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in Balochistan province (recent being the train hijacking and armed rebellion), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s ongoing insurgency in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, and the threats being regularly received from not only Islamic State Khorasan, but also the Afghan Taliban’s constant inter meddling in its internal affairs. While each of these groups have differing objectives, they are united on their three-fold objectives- overthrow the Pakistani government as well as the army establishment, banish all that is non- Islamic, impose strict Islamic Sharia law, and take complete control of all the provinces and hand the same over to the local militia groups, the same being the “true” representatives of the people.
This has been termed as the “Quad of Terror” in Pakistan, against its own established State by certain agencies (Times of India, March 14, 2025). While this “Quad of Terror” is still growing and nobody knows what the end of the same would be, there is no doubt that this whole nexus, combined with narcotics smuggling (the Golden Cresecent), antique smuggling, human trafficking, and organised crime nefarious mesh, is going to be the hardest nut to crack, for Pakistan, up until now. India, on her part, should strengthen not just her armed forces, but should be battle ready with the latest defence policy-making, strategic decision-making apparatus, not just on the land, but also in the air, on waters, along coasts, and the internal security paradigm should also be heavily strengthened.
Terror and anti-social, anti-national activities on border areas, in border nations are not at all a good news, and India should be on heavy alert, with all her preparation, goodwill, diplomatic soft powers, being displayed, in the best way possible. That is the only sure shot way to sway these dangers in the opposite directions. Jai Hind.
