A Band of Brothers

What does a TTP and ISIS collaboration mean for the world?

The Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) has recently announced its unwavering love and support for ISIS. Both groups of militants have developed a reputation for terror. And both groups are capable of a whole lot more damage when they put their heads together. Global terrorism’s face has been evolving over the course of the last two decades. Anti-terrorism efforts have also with counter measures suited for each situation. But the two groups bring on their own brand of ironic versatility.

“In ancient Greek mythology the Lernaean Hydra was a dragon that had so many heads that painters found it impossible to depict it in any of their work. Religious extremism isn’t much different from this. It is a growing, existential threat,” says Mahwash Badr, a clinical psychologist. She’s of the view that it makes sense for the TTP militants to want to find as much ground as they can internationally as Zarb-e-Azb batters their strongholds.

“The TTP is struggling with the fractures within its own ranks. It perhaps feels that joining the ISIS is a good power play, but it is in fact an admission of weakness. With the operation in Pakistan, it is finding ways to continue its ‘war’. However, the ISIS has aimed to form a Sunni state in Iraq, while the TTP has a different agenda altogether. Either way, this is no good news. It is also not a development that will benefit either group in the long run,” she explained.

The TTP’s stance also signals a change in the global face of terrorism. Al-Qaeda was at one point the main threat that the global war against terrorist brought to light. This is no longer the case. Khurram Chaudhry, an educator from Lahore, thinks that this move is more about the TTP leadership swaying towards a new authority figure. “What we are seeing now is that Al-Qaeda has been replaced with a new global player and their success has led to their popularity amongst the ‘masses’,” explained Khurram.

“TTP is swearing allegiance because their aim of bringing a caliphate to just Pakistan can be amplified to a larger segment of the world. This caliphate is becoming a reality, however twisted it may be. It is a STATE… it even issues traffic violations!” he exclaimed.

The TTP’s stance also signals a change in the global face of terrorism. Al-Qaeda was at one point the main threat that the global war against terrorist brought to light. This is no longer the case. Khurram Chaudhry, an educator from Lahore, thinks that this move is more about the TTP leadership swaying towards a new authority figure. “What we are seeing now is that Al-Qaeda has been replaced with a new global player and their success has led to their popularity amongst the ‘masses’,” explained Khurram

The issue is indeed a multifaceted one. Saad Mansoor, a financial analyst from Karachi, feels that this collaboration will deal a huge blow to counterterrorism efforts. “Elements that are pro-Taliban will shift their sympathies over to ISIS in a heartbeat. These elements are able to gain financial support from Gulf and technical support from people within Pakistani establishment. So in all likelihood we might end up seeing a replay of post-9/11 duplicity where US fights on one side and its supposed allies back those it is fighting against. TTP’s access to recruit manpower due to Pakistan’s huge madrassah indoctrinated population will only complicate the matters further,” he lamented.

The collaboration could result in an absolute disaster for Pakistan. As Rida Marriyam, a writer from Lahore, points out, “For starters, this is going to be a gateway for the ISIS group to infiltrate Pakistan. If they only succeed to arm TTP or aid the operation in Waziristan, then the middle eastern war around us could very well be centred here in the next few years,” she said. “Seeing the Iraq turmoil, and pretty much everything else happening in Muslim countries that have rebellions, this would bring a new war front in the face of Pakistan. There’s plenty of support here for them, and a lot of ground they can easily cover,” she added.

Kamil Hamid, a researcher from Islamabad highlighted how the TTP could use this as an opportunity to grow its militant network into one that was bigger and more dangerous. “ISIS is said to hold approximately 30,000+ fighters in Iraq and Syria. Their tactics have been described as being even more extreme than those of Al-Qaeda’s which should provide us with a good deal of insight as to how far they are willing to go to achieve their goals, not to mention how brutally they would enforce their will on any area which they seize,” he warned.

But Pakistan is facing an entirely different set of problems. “Our government’s inability or unwillingness to seriously tackle the threat posed by growing militancy in the state is not simply a matter of physically bombing a location where there might be Taliban militants, but actively struggling to change the poisonous mindset that allows this ideology to take root in the first place.

“Why have various mosques and madrassas that give refuge to Taliban fighters or preach ideals similar to the Taliban, not been shut down yet? Why does our public education system continue to spout bigotry and hate about non-Muslims around the world? Why does our very law continue to discriminate against minorities in Pakistan, often paving the way for their persecution?” he questioned. “I think the addition of ISIS to the equation only furthers an existing power within this country. While their resources are formidable, the ideology and mindset that they require to flourish is very much here,” he added wistfully.

Tahir Shabbir, Editor in Chief of Dharti.tv and photonews.com, thinks that the TTP are making a strategic move, which is rooted more in the financial side of things than anything else. “ISIS is flushed with money and Mullah Omar is not. Our hirsute mercenaries go where the money is. If there are financial gains to me made then that is where they will levitate towards,” he asserted.

“The TTP have always been a fragmented lot. And they have fought over lucrative smuggling routes. Now they have a source of income for essentially doing what they do all the time. No wonder the ISIS has struck a chord with our desi format hairy barbarians,” Tahir mused. “In the long run it really does not matter which hairy barbarian rules the roost — Fazlullah or Tamanche Mullah. Those who wage war on the Pakistani state will have to be liquidated irrespective of the initials of their organisation.” 

“The TTP have always been a fragmented lot. And they have fought over lucrative smuggling routes. Now they have a source of income for essentially doing what they do all the time. No wonder the ISIS has struck a chord with our desi format hairy barbarians,” Tahir mused. “In the long run it really does not matter which hairy barbarian rules the roost — Fazlullah or Tamanche Mullah. Those who wage war on the Pakistani state will have to be liquidated irrespective of the initials of their organisation,” he added.

Anthony Permal, a Digital Marketing head from the UAE, thinks that TTP’s announcement shouldn’t be taken lightly. “By announcing its support of ISIS, the TTP has put Pakistan in a precarious position. The state will now be seen as harbouring and colluding with a sponsor of genocide, which is essentially what ISIS is doing. At a very simplistic level, US bombardment of ISIS targets could now trigger retaliatory attacks by the TTP on Pakistani soil against local and international targets based within,” he explained.

“On a more complex level, the political framework of the country could take a further beating than what the recent protests by PPP and PTI have allowed. The ruling party will be seen as too weak to withstand both a renewed terror campaign and a political suicide brought on by a party which aims to dialogue with TTP. Now, that dialogue would be with an entity that supports genocide,” he said.

But the effects of this will not be contained to only a few facets. Anthony paints a fiery picture of the times to come. “If the support increases to more than just words, this could affect FDI, aid, NGO efforts against the calamities befalling Pakistan including polio. It could also affect travel and immigration policies, modified to stem any potential influx of TTP/ISIS elements,” he solemnly added.

Sabeen Khan, an educator from Peshawar, explains it all in a nutshell. “Both these groups are same in that they are equally boneheaded. It’s a lethal combination if the two are to come together, another déjà vu where the nation is yet again taken hostage and implanted with people who know nothing but violence.”