TTP, ISKP, LeJ And Others Eye Escalated Attacks Amid Pakistan Army’s Vulnerability | World News

NEW DELHI: Pakistan army has faced many embarrassing situations recently. While Operation Sindoor exposed the fault lines within the Pakistani army, it suffered huge losses at the hands of the terrorist groups it created. Pakistan may have entered into a fragile ceasefire with the Taliban, but many are skeptical about how long it will last. The losses inflicted on the army by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have now encouraged other terrorist groups to take over this organization.

Pakistani observers and security experts say there are many groups that want the institution to be dismantled. TTP, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) want the overthrow of the established Islamic rule and establishment in Pakistan.

LeJ largely focused on sectarian violence and targeted religious minority. It is not in the organization’s good books and may expand the scope of its attacks in the near future.

It has carried out attacks against the Pakistani establishment in the past, and Islamabad’s concern now is that the LeJ may fall back into alignment with the ISKP or TTP. LeJ has cooperated with these two groups separately in the past and therefore a repeat of this cannot be ruled out. ISKP, which is affiliated with Pakistan to fight against TTP and Afghan Taliban, may not remain in the background due to the current ceasefire.

ISKP first joined hands with the Pakistani structure to fight against the Afghan Taliban. However, if both parties make peace, ISKP may step back. ISKP is more likely to join hands with LeJ rather than TTP. TTP is thought to have the support of the Afghan Taliban.

Moreover, since ISKP consists of former members of TTP, it is difficult for the two to come together. Whether these groups come together or not, they are well aware of the weakness within the Pakistani army.

Intelligence Bureau officials say their assessment is that even if these groups fight back individually, they will increase attacks on the agency in the coming days. Pakistan is not even in a position to seek the support of Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad to fight against these groups. Jaish al-Muhammad has a very hot, very cold relationship with the establishment. Additionally, if there is a desire to fight against TTP, there may be a split in the organization.

Jaish-e-Mohammad may not join the organization as it sympathizes with both the Afghan Taliban and the TTP. The situation of Lashkar-i Tayibe is similar. Although this union never rebelled against the establishment, there was a possibility of a major split at the time Pakistan was aiding the United States in the war in Afghanistan. Many cadres were unhappy with this attitude and even threatened to leave and join the Taliban in Afghanistan.

While the danger of these groups getting out of control seems great, the Pakistani army also has other problems and that is in Balochistan.

Baloch groups are driven by ethnic nationalism and secular separatism. They’re looking for independent evidence. Baloch groups have caused great embarrassment to the Pakistani army in recent years. They primarily targeted Chinese citizens and investments outside the military. These groups also realized that the army was weak and that Pakistan was fighting on many fronts and was preparing for a bigger war in Balochistan.