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Pakistan Taliban: militant group behind school attack is under growing pressure Pakistan Taliban: militant group behind school attack is under growing pressure
(about 2 hours later)
For one of the world’s more parochial Islamist militant groups, the Pakistan Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has a habit of grabbing global headlines.For one of the world’s more parochial Islamist militant groups, the Pakistan Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has a habit of grabbing global headlines.
Set up to unite a motley collection of local extremist outfits in the rough and restive regions along Pakistan’s frontier with Afghanistan in 2007, the movement has had much of its time and energy taken up with bitter internal competition and maintaining its ruthless rule over the enclaves it has carved out over the years. It has also battled Pakistani security forces and launched a series of increasingly audacious and lethal terrorist attacks beyond the frontier zones. Only once has it been linked to a global strike – a plan to bomb Times Square. Set up in 2007 to unite a motley collection of local extremist outfits in the rough and restive regions along Pakistan’s frontier with Afghanistan, the movement has had much of its time and energy taken up with bitter internal competition and maintaining its ruthless rule over the enclaves it has carved out over the years. It has also battled Pakistani security forces and launched a series of increasingly audacious and lethal terrorist attacks beyond the frontier zones. Only once has it been linked to a global strike – a plan to bomb Times Square.
This latest operation – a bloody massacre at a school in Peshawar that left at least 141 dead, including 132 children – is a strike on all of these local fronts, with the added effect of assuring attention across the planet, though it is unlikely the latter was a priority.This latest operation – a bloody massacre at a school in Peshawar that left at least 141 dead, including 132 children – is a strike on all of these local fronts, with the added effect of assuring attention across the planet, though it is unlikely the latter was a priority.
The TTP has been under pressure in recent months. A series of internal splits has seen major factions peel off. The most important, made up of members of the powerful Mehsud tribe, has simply gone it alone. Others have rejected the brutal violence that has long been a hallmark of the movement. Mohammed Khurasani, the spokesman who claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, has been in the job for only a few weeks. The previous incumbent left to join a breakaway group loyal to Islamic State.The TTP has been under pressure in recent months. A series of internal splits has seen major factions peel off. The most important, made up of members of the powerful Mehsud tribe, has simply gone it alone. Others have rejected the brutal violence that has long been a hallmark of the movement. Mohammed Khurasani, the spokesman who claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack, has been in the job for only a few weeks. The previous incumbent left to join a breakaway group loyal to Islamic State.
Security officials and experts know that when groups fragment and leadership is contested, attacks often become more extreme as individual commanders and their followers seek to prove themselves the most effective and the most audacious. Violence, even directed at targets such as schools, also serves to reinforce disintegrating authority over communities in the enclaves where the militants are based. So too does the deployment of multiple suicide bombers, seven in this case. The tactic, however common it has become, remains an effective way of inspiring fear. Security officials and experts know that when groups fragment and leadership is contested, attacks often become more extreme as individual commanders and their followers seek to prove themselves the most effective and the most audacious. Violence, even directed at targets such as schools, also serves to reinforce disintegrating authority over communities in the enclaves where the militants are based. So too does the deployment of multiple suicide bombers – seven in this case. The tactic, however common it has become, remains an effective way of inspiring fear.
Since June, a new and very direct pressure has been applied to the TTP. The Pakistani military finally moved into the North Waziristan tribal agency, where dozens of groups threatening local, regional and international targets were based. The assault was seen as the climax to years of campaigning on the frontier, chasing militants out of successive strongholds.Since June, a new and very direct pressure has been applied to the TTP. The Pakistani military finally moved into the North Waziristan tribal agency, where dozens of groups threatening local, regional and international targets were based. The assault was seen as the climax to years of campaigning on the frontier, chasing militants out of successive strongholds.
More than a thousand fighters from the movement are thought to have been killed in the new push, as well as civilians.More than a thousand fighters from the movement are thought to have been killed in the new push, as well as civilians.
The TTP, which has established a presence in most urban centres, reacted with a strike on the main international airport in Karachi, the southern port city which is the country’s commercial capital, and a huge bombing of a flag ceremony, claimed by a splinter group, on the western border with India. The TTP, which has established a presence in most urban centres, reacted with a strike on the main international airport in Karachi, the southern port city that is the country’s commercial capital, and a huge bombing of a flag ceremony, claimed by a splinter group, on the western border with India.
This latest attack is 20 miles short of the eastern border. Is the TTP trying to show a capacity to strike across Pakistan?This latest attack is 20 miles short of the eastern border. Is the TTP trying to show a capacity to strike across Pakistan?
Perhaps. Khurasani, the spokesman, merely said that the operation was in revenge for children killed by the army offensive.Perhaps. Khurasani, the spokesman, merely said that the operation was in revenge for children killed by the army offensive.
Schools have long been in the crosshairs, however. More than a thousand have been destroyed by Islamist militants from one faction or another in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past five years. The institutions both symbolise government authority and are seen as un-Islamic. This school is at the edge of a military “cantonment” in Peshawar, the capital of the province, and inevitably many students are the children of servicemen. It is a soft target, but one with powerful psychological impact. Schools have long been in the crosshairs, however. More than a thousand have been destroyed by Islamist militants from one faction or another in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past five years. The institutions symbolise government authority and are seen as un-Islamic. This school is at the edge of a military “cantonment” in Peshawar, the capital of the province, and inevitably many students are the children of servicemen. It is a soft target, but one with powerful psychological impact.
The backdrop is the continuing power struggle in Pakistan between the army generals and the elected – if imperfect – civilian government. Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, and Raheel Sharif, the army chief, both flew to Peshawar. They did not travel together. Both said they wanted to oversee operations in person.The backdrop is the continuing power struggle in Pakistan between the army generals and the elected – if imperfect – civilian government. Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, and Raheel Sharif, the army chief, both flew to Peshawar. They did not travel together. Both said they wanted to oversee operations in person.
One of the many continuing concerns in Washington and elsewhere is Pakistan’s “selective” attitude to Islamist militants.One of the many continuing concerns in Washington and elsewhere is Pakistan’s “selective” attitude to Islamist militants.
Officials in both Afghanistan and India have repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring militants responsible for a string of strikes in their countries. Special trains laid on last month for followers of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group behind the 2008 assault on Mumbai, enraged Delhi. The group is also blamed for an attack in Herat, in western Afghanistan, earlier this year. The Afghan Taliban leadership and other insurgent groups have long operated from Pakistan. Officials in both Afghanistan and India have repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring militants responsible for a string of strikes in their countries. Special trains laid on last month for followers of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based group behind the 2008 assault on Mumbai, enraged Delhi. The group is also blamed for an attack in Herat, western Afghanistan, earlier this year. The Afghan Taliban leadership and other insurgent groups have long operated from Pakistan.
Pakistani officials rebut such claims and, privately, often blame their neighbours for the ongoing violence within Pakistan’s borders. The head of the TTP, Mullah Fazlullah, may be in north-eastern Afghanistan, while some within the Pakistani security establishment remain convinced that Delhi is backing his campaigns. Both Narendra Modi, prime minister of India, and Ashraf Ghani, the new president of Afghanistan, condemned Tuesday’s attack. But the toxic levels of mutual suspicion across the region make it hard to envisage any real improvement in relations between the three nations. Few locally believe the US withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan will help either, with deep fears of a backwash of militants from the conflict seeking new targets. Pakistani officials rebut such claims and, privately, often blame their neighbours for the ongoing violence within Pakistan’s borders. The head of the TTP, Mullah Fazlullah, may be in north-eastern Afghanistan, while some within the Pakistani security establishment remain convinced that Delhi is backing his campaigns. Both Narendra Modi, prime minister of India, and Ashraf Ghani, the new president of Afghanistan, condemned Tuesday’s attack. But the toxic levels of mutual suspicion, whatever the boilerplate expressions of solidarity today, across the region make it hard to envisage any real improvement in relations between the three nations. Few locally believe the US withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan will help either, with deep fears of a backwash of militants from the conflict seeking new targets.
Caught in the crossfire in the middle of this maelstrom of violence and politics are the children, of course.Caught in the crossfire in the middle of this maelstrom of violence and politics are the children, of course.