3 days ago
ISKP Expected to Intensify Attacks on Taliban-Friendly Groups
The article says a militant group called ISKP may carry out more attacks in Pakistan.
It says the group could target religious schools and organisations that support the Afghan Taliban.
Officials quoted in the article say ISKP has religious disagreements with these groups.
They also allege that Pakistan's establishment may find ISKP useful in its conflicts with the TTP and the Afghan Taliban.
The article does not present independent proof for that alleged relationship.
One group named as a possible target is Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl.
In 2023, an ISKP suicide attack at one of its rallies in Bajaur killed nearly 60 people, the report says.
Experts quoted say such attacks could weaken the Taliban network's standing by showing it cannot protect its supporters.
Intelligence officials cited in the report expect Islamic State Khorasan Province attacks on Deobandi organisations supportive of the Afghan Taliban to increase.
Officials say ISKP describes Deobandi Hanafi jurisprudence as flawed and has called some institutions apostates.
The report says Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Deobandi seminaries are among the likely targets.
A 2023 ISKP suicide attack at a JUI-F rally in Bajaur killed nearly 60 people, according to the article.
Officials and analysts quoted say Pakistan may see ISKP as useful against the TTP and Afghan Taliban; these claims are attributed, not independently established in the article.
- Who
- Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Deobandi organisations supportive of the Afghan Taliban, and Pakistan's establishment, as described by officials and analysts quoted in the article.
- What
- Officials expect ISKP attacks on Taliban-friendly Deobandi organisations to increase and allege Pakistan may be using ISKP against the TTP and Afghan Taliban.
- Where
- Pakistan, including Bajaur district and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.
- When
- The article gives no publication date; it refers to a 2023 attack and forecasts future attacks.
- Why
- The article attributes the expected attacks to ISKP's ideological opposition to Deobandi groups and to efforts to weaken the TTP and the Afghan Taliban.
Key facts
- Group
- Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)
- Reported target groups
- Deobandi organisations and seminaries supportive of the Afghan Taliban
- Named organisation
- Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)
- Past attack
- A 2023 suicide attack at a JUI-F rally in Bajaur killed nearly 60 people, according to the article.
- Other militant groups mentioned
- Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)
- Alleged Pakistan connection
- An Intelligence Bureau official quoted in the report says Pakistan's establishment backs or uses ISKP; the article provides this as an attributed claim.
Quotes
Intelligence Bureau official
An Intelligence Bureau official commenting on Pakistan and ISKP.
“Moreover, the Pakistani establishment is at loggerheads with the Afghan Taliban. The establishment would encourage ISKP attacks on institutes that are sympathetic to the Afghan Taliban.”
thehansindia.com
“The ISKP says that the South Asian Deobandi Hanafi jurisprudence is flawed and an illegitimate interpretation of Islam. The ISKP has very often called such institutions apostates.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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