The reported split raises questions about whether it reflects routine restructuring or deeper divisions within the TTP
A picture of a TTP member. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), widely considered to be one of the most influential and lethal factions within the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – second only to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group – has reportedly announced its third split from the organisation.
The group has maintained a significant presence across Pakistan’s Malakand Division, Mohmand, Bajaur, Peshawar and surrounding districts, while also developing networks in major urban centers such as Karachi and Lahore.
The reported separation has given rise to questions about whether it reflects a routine organizational realignment or larger strategic and ideological differences within the TTP.
Historical background
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar only emerged in 2014 after formally breaking away from the TTP. The faction was led by Omar Khalid Khorasani, one of the organization’s most influential leaders, while Ehsanullah Ehsan served as its prominent spokesman.
The split was primarily driven by opposition to the appointment of Mullah Fazlullah – a non-tribal figure from Swat – as TTP chief. JuA leaders claimed that the decision was taken without adequate consultation with the top brass and that their faction had been excluded from the leadership process.
After almost a year of mediation by local Taliban leaders and the Afghan Taliban, the two sides reached a reconciliation. Sources have previously stated that Sirajuddin Haqqani, now Afghanistan’s interior minister, played a key role in facilitating these efforts. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar subsequently rejoined the TTP in 2015.
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However, relations between the factions remained strained. JuA commanders reportedly criticized Mullah Fazlullah’s leadership for lacking strategic clarity, despite both groups adhering to the same line of thinking.
They also differed on the operational policy, with the JuA and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group often claiming responsibility for attacks that the TTP leadership chose not to acknowledge publicly, describing its silence as a “strategic” approach.
In 2017–18, the two sides reportedly operated separately, despite the absence of a formal public announcement. After Fazlullah’s death, TTP leader Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud managed to bring JuA back into the organization, where it remained until the latest reported split.
According to reports, the current split is linked to disagreements over TTP policies and concerns over the organisation’s alleged growing closeness to hardline factions. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
Operational scope and strategy
Security observers say the reported split suggests Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is seeking to pursue a broader operational strategy, considering all of Pakistan as its area of operations rather than limiting its activities to the former tribal districts or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Recent attacks claimed by the group, including one in Karachi, have been cited by analysts as evidence of this broader geographic focus.
Some analysts also believe that JuA’s more proactive operational stance may help it attract new recruits. However, these assessments remain analytical judgments rather than independently established facts.
If confirmed, the reported split would represent another significant development within the evolving militancy landscape in Pakistan and could have implications for the TTP’s coherence and future trajectory.
JuA is also believed to have established links with Balochistan separatist groups and analysts suggest it may claim responsibility for attacks in Balochistan province in the near future.
