A security post in Tirah, Khyber district, came under a devastating militant attack, resulting in multiple casualties and significant damage. Reportedly, four security personnel were killed, and nine others were injured. Additionally, two security men have gone missing following the assault. The attack has been jointly claimed by three terrorist groups: Lashkar-e-Islam, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A video released by JuA showed militants torching vehicles during the night, adding to the tension in the region.
The ongoing escalation of militant activity is a direct consequence of the Pakistan Army’s long-standing policy of nurturing extremist groups. For years, the Army has allowed these groups to proliferate, but the strategy has backfired as the very terrorists they once supported are now launching attacks against the Army itself.
The situation has worsened significantly with the TTP announcing its expansion, which further strengthens the TTP’s position as an umbrella organization for various terrorist factions across Pakistan.
The expansion of the TTP highlights the Pakistan Army’s failure to effectively combat terrorism. While terrorist groups like the TTP continue to grow, the Army remains preoccupied with silencing Pashtun activists who speak out against enforced disappearances, abductions, extrajudicial killings, and oppressive military operations. The Army’s focus on suppressing dissent has not only failed to curb the rising influence of militant groups but has also contributed to a climate of oppression and violence that is now spiraling out of control.
The expanding influence of the TTP and its affiliates poses a grave threat to Pakistan’s security, as the crisis has now reached unprecedented levels. Despite this, the Army continues to overlook the escalating threat, allowing extremist groups to flourish under the radar.