Author: Mufti Abu Harith, Scholar and Specialist, Jamia Islamia Makhzan Ul uloom, Karachi
For those closely following recent events in Pakistan, it is evident that a significant confrontation is unfolding between two major forces—the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the security institutions—not just on the physical battlegrounds, but also within the media domain, where both parties are notably active.
On one side, TTP operatives are routinely claiming the lives of numerous security Conversely, the security institutions are engaged in persistent raids and operations against the TTP across the nation. The land of Pakistan, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has transformed into a scene of conflict, escalating beyond the conditions witnessed in 2013.
The political and defensive state of the country has reached a level reminiscent of the final days of Ashraf Ghani’s administration (the Republic) in Afghanistan. In its final phase, the Ghani administration focused on two actions, both of which are typical precursors to the collapse of any government or system. These are as follows:
First Action
When the Ghani administration found itself diminishing in vitality and capacity to oppose the Taliban, it resorted to targeting innocent civilians as an outlet for its frustrations.
Civilians were subjected to indiscriminate bombardments, with marketplaces and mosques becoming targets of drone strikes. The utilization of artillery was so extensive that entire villages were decimated. The objective was to induce hardship among the populace, prompting them to flee their habitats and cease harboring or shielding the Taliban in their places of worship, communal hubs, and neighborhoods.
Nevertheless, the unwavering fortitude and spiritual fortitude of the Afghan populace remained steadfast. Despite enduring such atrocities, they did not align with the government against the Taliban.
The globe witnessed the fruits of Afghan patience and sacrifices: today, Afghanistan relishes a peace, stability, and order unparalleled in the lengthy histories of Europe and America.
The Pakistani administration is replicating the oppressive strategies utilized by the Ghani administration against the Afghan people.
The brutalities inflicted by Ashraf Ghani and his administration upon the Afghan populace align closely with the actions perpetrated by the Pakistani State within the tribal region. In Khyber’s Tirah Valley, specifically at “Peer Mela”, a drone strike targeted a bustling market, resulting in the fatalities of merchants alongside students from schools and madrasas.
Likewise, in the continual drone operations, civilians—comprising children, senior citizens, and women—were mercilessly targeted and martyred in North and South Waziristan.
If the people of Pakistan, particularly those of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, exhibit the same same resistance and determination as those of Afghans against state terrorism, it will not be long before Pakistan attains a state of peace, stability, and an Islamic system akin to that of Afghanistan, by the will of Allah.
Second Course of Action
A second pivotal move by the Ashraf Ghani administration entailed escalating state-backed media campaigns against the Taliban to besmirch their reputation.
They accused the Afghan Taliban of being trained by the ISI and killing Afghans to serve Pakistan’s interests, labeling their jihad as a business rather than a sacred cause.
Did such propaganda afford them benefits? Did it safeguard their corrupt democratic and republican structure? Did it erode the reputation or morale of the Taliban? Consider the present positions of the propagators in contrast to the stalwart standing of the Taliban—validated as guardians of the Afghan populace and heralds of genuine peace and order.
Esteemed Readers!
The Pakistani state and its military establishment have embraced the same failed approach as the Ghani administration, perceiving it as a significant stride towards success.
In this regard, someone has aptly said:
“I fear you may not reach the Kaaba, O Bedouin; for the path you tread leads to Turkistan.”
Pakistani authorities and their official and unofficial channels have mirrored Ghani’s tactics, disseminating baseless assertions such as presenting an audio message of TTP leader Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud (Abu Mansoor Asim) as evidence to suggest TTP leadership operates from Afghanistan and directs its fighters from there.
For instance, recent Pakistani media coverage has repeatedly highlighted this statement:
“The Mujahideen on the frontlines should show steadfastness and not trouble themselves with returning to their bases and homes.”
Pakistani media has been fixating on this claim for days. However, those devoid of rational judgment and political acumen fail to recognize the reality of the TTP leadership’s whereabouts.
Challenges to the Narrative:
TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khurasani has repeatedly invited neutral journalists to visit their controlled areas and meet their leadership to verify these claims. However, months have passed without a response to this invitation. This silence clearly indicates that allowing such meetings would expose the truth, dismantling the Pakistani state’s propaganda and lies.
What will remain of the baseless allegations against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan once the truth is revealed? How will Pakistan’s collaboration with the U.S. continue to hold legitimacy?
Despite their smaller size, the TTP’s morale grows stronger, and their support increases within Pakistan, while hatred for the military deepens. The TTP’s goodwill towards communities, guidance from religious scholars, and ethical interactions with political figures are strengthening their trust among the people. Conversely, the military’s oppression—seizing resources, forced disappearances, indiscriminate bombings of homes and marketplaces, servitude to America and Western powers, and unethical behavior—have made the security institutions contemptible and disgraceful in the public eye.
The Pakistani state must abandon such baseless propaganda and adopt rational policies. As the TTP emerges as an unyielding force, unfounded claims only strengthen their resolve. Similarly, unwarranted claims against Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate merely serve American agendas, which the Pakistani people will never accept.
