The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced the incorporation of the Attaullah Rehman group, also known as Naeem Bukhari’s faction from Karachi. This development marks the 61st militant group to merge with the TTP since the series of mergers began in 2020. Notably, Bukhari, the commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group, has been in custody since 2016.
The inclusion of Bukhari’s group further solidifies the TTP’s role as an overarching umbrella organization for various terrorist factions across Pakistan. This alarming expansion reflects the Pakistan Army’s continued failure to effectively combat and contain the growing threat of terrorism within the country.
Despite the rising influence of the TTP and its affiliates, the Pakistan Army remains focused on silencing human rights activists who speak out against the military’s enforced disappearances, abductions, extra-judicial killings, and Army operations. The Punjabi Pak Army’s efforts to suppress dissent have not only failed to address the escalating terrorist actions but have also contributed to the climate of oppression and violence.