Terrorist Groups in Pakistan

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

JAHAN ZAIB, REG # 35078
MPHIL (IR), IQRA UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD
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Terrorist Groups in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the most badly affected countries by terrorism due to its geographical
location. It has border disputes with India in the east and Kashmir dispute is still unresolved. Iran
is located on west, where a different version of Islam is followed. Afghanistan is located in
northwest of Pakistan, which has remained a sanctuary for terrorists for many decades.
Following are the main terrorist groups in Pakistan: -

1. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is umbrella organization of various student militant
groups based along the Afghan-Pakistan border. It is one of the deadliest terrorist groups in
Pakistan. After Lal Masjid incident, thirteen groups merged under leadership of Baitullah
Mehsud to form TTP. TTP is based on Islamic Fundamentalist ideology and it waged war against
security forces of Pakistan and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Currently, TTP announced to
control border regions of Pakistan, and make them independent. Initially, TTP aimed to
implement Shariah Laws all over Pakistan. Noor Wali Mehsud is current Chief (Emir) of TTP.
TTP is headquartered in Eastern Afghanistan and its strength ranges between 30,000 to 35,000
members.

2. Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM)
Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) is a militant terrorist group based in
Pakistan. Its objective is to enforce sharia laws in Pakistan. The group was founded by Sufi
Muhammad in 1992, and was banned by President Pervez Musharraf in 2002. TNSM controlled
much of swat in 2007. It is active in border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan especially in Dir,
Swat and Malakand. It is one of the deadliest terrorist organizations in Pakistan. In 2007 group
destroyed Buddhist sculptures in Swat. The group made Shariah courts in Swat district and
disallowed woman to go to educational institutions and for jobs. Sufi Muhammad renounced
violence in 2008 and TNSM allied with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
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3. Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)

Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is a militant organization based in Kandhar,
Afghanistan. BLA is based on ideology of Baloch Nationalism and it aims to get separation of
Balochistan from Pakistan. BLA waged war against Pakistan in 2004 and carried out many
terrorist activities in Balochistan, targeting non-Baloch ethnic minorities. It also carries out
attacks against Pakistan Army, Foreign Nationals and civilians especially from other provinces
in Balochistan. BLA is designated as terrorist organization by Pakistan, United States and United
Kingdom. Afghanistan has acknowledged to provide support to the group. Aslam Baloch and
other separatists were kept in Kandahar for many years. India is also alleged to have links with
BLA, though both sides have denied it.

4. Baloch Republican Army

Baloch Republican Army is an armed terrorist group based in the Baluchistan province of
Pakistan. Baloch Republican Army was founded in 2006 and it is believed to be a militant group
of Baloch Republican Party. Government of Pakistan banned Baloch Republican Army in
September, 2010. Brahumdagh Bugti is the current chief of Baloch Republican Army. His
request for asylum was rejected by Switzerland in 2017 due to charges of terrorism. In the same
year, 143 militants belonging to the group surrendered to the Pakistani authorities, and another
70 militant along with commander surrendered in 2018. The organization destroyed statue of
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Gwadar in 2021.

5. Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)

Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is a militant group operating in Balochistan region of
Southwestern Asia. If was founded in 1964 by Jumma Khan in Damascus, Syria. The group is
based on ideology of Baloch Nationalism. It played an important role in insurgency in Iranian
province of Sistan and Baluchestan (1968-1973) and Pakistani province of Balochistan (1973-
1977). However, group was defeated by both Iran and Pakistan. The group reappeared in
Balochistan, Pakistan in 2004 and carried out attacks. Allah Nazar Baloch became its
commander in 2006. The group has carried out attacks against government officials and military
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personnel. 20 construction workers from Punjab and Sindh were killed by BLF in 2015 in
Turbat, Balochistan. BLF killed 15 migrants in 2017, whose bodies were later discovered from
city of Turbat in Balochistan.

6. Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA)

Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA) is a terrorist group based in the Sindh province of
Pakistan. SLA is based on ideology of Sindhi nationalism. It came to known publicly after 2010
bomb blast on railway track near Hyderabad. Darya Khan is leader of SLA and government of
Pakistan declared it as terrorist organization. SLA is accused of having support from Indian
government by Pakistan. A vehicle of Chinese engineer was targeted by the group in Karachi
with remote control bomb. Chinese national and his driver were injured in attack. The group also
took responsibility for carrying out low-intensity explosions outside branches and ATMs of
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in various cities of Sindh, injuring four citizens.

7. Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP)

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) is a Sunni sectarian militant organization based in
Pakistan. The objective of the group is to declare Pakistan a Sunni state. It has carried out many
terrorist activities in Pakistan, especially targeting minority Shia community in Pakistan. SSP
was founded by Haq Nawaz Jhangvi in Jhang in 1985. United Kingdom banned the group in
2001. It was designated as terrorist group by President Pervez Musharraf in 2002 under Ant-
Terrorism Act 2007. SSP was again banned by government of Pakistan in 2012. SSP is
considered one of the most powerful extremist group in Pakistan. It has presence in all the four
provinces of Pakistan as well as Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. There are over five hundred
branches in country and 17 overseas branches of the group. SSP has more than 300,000
registered workers. SSP is now renamed as Milatt-e-Islamia and it works as political party.

8. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ)
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Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) is a Sunni sectarian terrorist organization based in Afghanistan.

It has operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. LeJ is a faction of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP),
and it was formed in 1996. Riaz Basra, Akram Lahori and Malik Ishaq, separated from SSP
founded LeJ. It carried out terrorist activities in Pakistan especially targeting minority Shia
community. Over 200 Hazara Shias were killed by them in various explosions in 2013 in Quetta.
Other notable attacks by them include 2009 attack on Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore.
Attacks by LeJ also killed US and French citizens. It also carried out assassination attempt
against Nawaz Sharif in 2019. Interior ministry of Pakistan said that suicide bomber involved in
assassination of Benazir Bhutto also belonged to LeJ.

9. Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan (TJP)

Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan (TJP) is a Shia Militant terrorist group in Pakistan. It was
founded in 1979 by Arif Hussain Hussaini. Its creation coincided with enforcement of Islamic
Laws by General Zia ul Haq in Pakistan and Shia Revolution in Iran. Syed Muhammad Dehalvi
of Karachi was elected as its first president. TJP was banned by the government of Pakistan in
2002. According to TJP, Islam was the basic ideology of Pakistan, however conspiracy was
made against Islam by introducing sectarian Islam by General Zia-ul-Haq. Its objective is to
protect rights of Shia community in Pakistan. It does not aim to make Pakistan a Shia state.

10. Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP)

Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) is a Shia Militant terrorist organization based in
Pakistan. It also worked as a political party and was founded in 1993. It was made by Shia leader
Maulana Mureed Abbas Yazdani. President Pervez Musharraf banned SMP in 2001 and declared
it to be a terrorist organization. Its aim was protection of Shia community against violent
Wahabi/Takfiri groups. It is considered to be armed wing of Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan. The
headquarters of the group are in Lahore. Ghulam Raza Naqvi is the last known leader of the
group who died in 2016. The group targeted and assassinated various leaders and members of
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
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