View source for Religion:Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan

{{Short description|Pashtun Islamist organization along the Afghan–Pakistani border}}
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name=Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
| native_name = تحریک طالبان پاکستان
| war=the [[Social:Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and the Global War on Terrorism
| image=[[File:Flag of Tehrik-i-Taliban.svg|border|260px]]<br>[[File:Variant flag of the Islamic State.svg|border|260px]]|caption=Flags used by the Tehrik-i-Taliban<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jihadology.net/2018/10/08/new-video-message-from-the-te%E1%B8%A5rik-i-%E1%B9%ADaliban-pakistans-abu-man%E1%B9%A3ur-a%E1%B9%A3im-me%E1%B8%A5sud-about-the-messages-of-condolence-and-congratulation-sent-by-the-leaders-of-t/|title=New video message from the Teḥrīk-ī-Ṭālibān Pākistān's Abū Manṣūr 'Āṣim Meḥsūd: 'About the Messages of Condolence and Congratulation Sent By the Leaders of the Islamic Jihād on the Occasion of the Martyrdom of Mawlawī Faḍl Allah Khurāsānī and a Petition to the Jihādī Leaders To Unite the Blessed Jihādī Ranks'|publisher=jihadology.net|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809065637/https://jihadology.net/2018/10/08/new-video-message-from-the-te%e1%b8%a5rik-i-%e1%b9%adaliban-pakistans-abu-man%e1%b9%a3ur-a%e1%b9%a3im-me%e1%b8%a5sud-about-the-messages-of-condolence-and-congratulation-sent-by-the-leaders-of-t/|archive-date=9 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
|active=December 2007 – present
|[[Religion:Fundamentalism|Fundamentalism]]<ref name="DOPEL">{{cite web|url=http://www.dopel.org/Tehrik-i-Taliban%20SwatBajaurMohmand.htm|title=Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat/Bajaur/Mohmand|access-date=12 December 2018|work=DOPEL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924152303/http://www.dopel.org/Tehrik-i-Taliban%20SwatBajaurMohmand.htm|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Maley2-14">{{cite book|last=Maley|first=William|title=Fundamentalism Reborn? Afghanistan and the Taliban|year=2001|publisher=C Hurst & Co|isbn=978-1-85065-360-8|page=14}}</ref><ref name="oxfordislamicstudies.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/print/opr/t236/e0895|title=Taliban - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531114931/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/print/opr/t236/e0895|archive-date=31 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br />Pashtunwali<ref name="CF2R">{{cite web |url=http://www.cf2r.org/fr/tribune-libre/understanding-taliban-through-the-prism-of-pashtunwali-code.php |title=Understanding taliban through the prism of Pashtunwali code |publisher=CF2R |date=30 November 2013 |access-date=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810020924/http://www.cf2r.org/fr/tribune-libre/understanding-taliban-through-the-prism-of-pashtunwali-code.php |archive-date=10 August 2014 }}</ref><br />[[Religion:Wahhabism|Wahhabism]]<ref name="digitaljournal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347009|title=Did you know that there are two different Taliban groups?|date=1 April 2013|website=www.digitaljournal.com}}</ref><br/>[[Religion:Sectarianism|Sectarianism]]<ref name="MMP: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan">{{cite news |title=MMP: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan |url=https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/tehrik-i-taliban-pakistan |work=cisac.fsi.stanford.edu |language=en}}</ref>[[Social:Separatism|Separatism]]<ref name="scott">{{cite news|last=Shane|first=Scott|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|title=Insurgents Share a Name, but Pursue Different Goals|date=22 October 2009|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|access-date=26 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016000327/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|archive-date=16 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=siddiqa>{{cite journal|title=Pakistan's Counterterrorism Strategy: Separating Friends from Enemies |journal=The Washington Quarterly |year=2011 |first=Ayesha |last=Siddiqa |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=149–162 |doi=10.1080/0163660X.2011.538362 |s2cid=54884433 |url=http://www.twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |access-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224230305/http://twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=eliasb>{{cite journal | title = Know Thine Enemy | journal = Foreign Affairs | date = 2 November 2009 | first = Barbara | last = Elias | url = http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | access-date = 11 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091120223118/http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | archive-date = 20 November 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/4-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-separate-clashes/2110282|title=4 Pakistani soldiers killed in separate clashes|publisher=Anadolu Agency|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>
|clans=
|leaders=Baitullah Mehsud{{KIA}}<ref name=abbash>{{cite journal| last = Abbas| first = Hassan| title = A Profile of Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan| journal = CTC Sentinel| volume = 1| issue = 2| pages = 1–4| publisher = Combating Terrorism Center| location = West Point, NY| date = January 2008| url = http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html| access-date = 8 November 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170101073222/http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html| archive-date = 1 January 2017| url-status = live}}</ref><br /><small>(2007–09)</small><br />Hakimullah Mehsud{{KIA}}<ref name="Dawn News">{{cite news|title=Hakeemullah announced new leader – doubts linger |publisher=Dawn News |date=23 August 2009 |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-doubts-remain-as-hakeemullah-annnounced-new-leader-ss-07 |access-date=23 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826200323/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-doubts-remain-as-hakeemullah-annnounced-new-leader-ss-07 |archive-date=26 August 2009}}</ref><ref name=dt20090823>{{cite news|last=Khan |first=Hasbanullah |title=Hakeemullah appointed Baitullah's 'successor' |work=Daily Times|date=23 August 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\23\story_23-8-2009_pg1_5 |access-date=24 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109081440/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C23%5Cstory_23-8-2009_pg1_5 |archive-date=9 November 2009}}</ref><br /><small>(2009–13)</small><br>Fazal Hayat{{KIA}}<ref name = "GuardianOct14">{{cite web|title = Isis ascent in Syria and Iraq weakening Pakistani Taliban|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/22/pakistani-taliban-spokesman-isis-pledge|work = {{wipe|The Guardian}} |location=London |date = 23 October 2014|access-date = 24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022143448/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/22/pakistani-taliban-spokesman-isis-pledge|archive-date=22 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><br /><small>(2013–18)</small><br />Noor Wali Mehsud<br /><small>(since 2018)</small>
|headquarters=Eastern Afghanistan<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51356940|title=Kabul Taliban: Spies, militants and a mysterious assassination|date=7 February 2020|publisher=BBC News|quote=The group, which has been severely weakened in recent years, is now based in the east of Afghanistan, in areas out of the control of the country's government.|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207035040/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51356940|archive-date=7 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Rise Of The New Pakistani Taliban |url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/the-rise-of-the-new-pakistani-taliban/31261608.html |work=RFE/RL |date=18 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Nangarhar province"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1371039|title=TTP has foothold in Afghanistan, says Abdullah|date=17 November 2017|work=Dawn News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117085738/https://www.dawn.com/news/1371039|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistani-taliban-between-infighting-government-crackdowns-and-daesh-25976|title=Pakistani Taliban: Between infighting, government crackdowns and Daesh|date=18 April 2019|work=TRT World|author=Zia ur Rehman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418164507/https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistani-taliban-between-infighting-government-crackdowns-and-daesh-25976|archive-date=18 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/afghan-pakistani-cross-border-terrorism-cuts-both-ways/|title=Afghan-Pakistani Cross-Border Terrorism Cuts Both Ways|date=9 April 2018|author=Franz J. Marty|work=The Diplomat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518162748/https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/afghan-pakistani-cross-border-terrorism-cuts-both-ways/|archive-date=18 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|area = 
|allegiance = {{flagdeco|AFG|1997}} [[Place:Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/pakistani-talibans-emir-renews-allegiance-to-afghan-taliban.php|title=Pakistani Taliban's emir renews allegiance to Afghan Taliban|work=FDD's Long War Journal|author=Thomas Joscelyn|date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
|ideology = [[Religion:Wahhabism|Wahhabism]]<ref name="digitaljournal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347009|title=Did you know that there are two different Taliban groups?|date=1 April 2013|website=www.digitaljournal.com}}</ref><br/>Islamic Fundamentalism<ref name="DOPEL">{{cite web|url=http://www.dopel.org/Tehrik-i-Taliban%20SwatBajaurMohmand.htm|title=Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat/Bajaur/Mohmand|access-date=12 December 2018|work=DOPEL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924152303/http://www.dopel.org/Tehrik-i-Taliban%20SwatBajaurMohmand.htm|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">"Deobandi Islam: The Religion of the Taliban". U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, 15 October 2001.</ref><ref name="Maley2-14">{{cite book|last=Maley|first=William|title=Fundamentalism Reborn? Afghanistan and the Taliban|year=2001|publisher=C Hurst & Co|isbn=978-1-85065-360-8|page=14}}</ref><ref name="oxfordislamicstudies.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/print/opr/t236/e0895|title=Taliban - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531114931/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/print/opr/t236/e0895|archive-date=31 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><br />Pashtunwali<ref name="CF2R">{{cite web |url=http://www.cf2r.org/fr/tribune-libre/understanding-taliban-through-the-prism-of-pashtunwali-code.php |title=Understanding taliban through the prism of Pashtunwali code |publisher=CF2R |date=30 November 2013 |access-date=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810020924/http://www.cf2r.org/fr/tribune-libre/understanding-taliban-through-the-prism-of-pashtunwali-code.php |archive-date=10 August 2014 }}</ref><br />[[Religion:Sectarianism|Sectarianism]]<ref name="MMP: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan">{{cite news |title=MMP: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan |url=https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/tehrik-i-taliban-pakistan |work=cisac.fsi.stanford.edu |language=en}}</ref><br />[[Social:Separatism|Separatism]]<ref name="scott">{{cite news|last=Shane|first=Scott|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|title=Insurgents Share a Name, but Pursue Different Goals|date=22 October 2009|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|access-date=26 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016000327/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|archive-date=16 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=siddiqa>{{cite journal|title=Pakistan's Counterterrorism Strategy: Separating Friends from Enemies |journal=The Washington Quarterly |year=2011 |first=Ayesha |last=Siddiqa |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=149–162 |doi=10.1080/0163660X.2011.538362 |s2cid=54884433 |url=http://www.twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |access-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224230305/http://twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=eliasb>{{cite journal | title = Know Thine Enemy | journal = Foreign Affairs | date = 2 November 2009 | first = Barbara | last = Elias | url = http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | access-date = 11 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091120223118/http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | archive-date = 20 November 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/4-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-separate-clashes/2110282|title=4 Pakistani soldiers killed in separate clashes|publisher=Anadolu Agency|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>
| size=* 25,000 in 2014<ref name="BBC-25 April 2014">{{cite news|last1=Bennett-Jones|first1=Owen|title=Pakistan army eyes Taliban talks with unease|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27133865|access-date=4 July 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425115135/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27133865|archive-date=25 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 3,000–5,000 in Afghanistan in 2019 (according to U.S. Department of Defense)<ref name="inafghanistan">{{cite web|url=https://www.dodig.mil/Reports/Lead-Inspector-General-Reports/Article/1853337/lead-inspector-general-for-operation-freedoms-sentinel-i-quarterly-report-to-th/|title=Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom's Sentinel I Quarterly Report to the United States Congress I January 1, 2019 – March 31, 2019|access-date=12 May 2019|work=Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoDIG)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601131905/https://www.dodig.mil/Reports/Lead-Inspector-General-Reports/Article/1853337/lead-inspector-general-for-operation-freedoms-sentinel-i-quarterly-report-to-th/|archive-date=1 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/the-pakistani-taliban-is-back/|title=The Pakistani Taliban is Back|date=9 March 2021|publisher=The Diplomat}}</ref>
* 2,500-6,000 in Afghanistan in 2021 (according to a UN report)<ref name="Nangarhar province">{{cite news |title=Pak's TTP Maintains Ties With Taliban, Its 6,000 Terrorists Still In Afghanistan: UN Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/paks-ttp-maintains-ties-with-taliban-as-its-6-000-terrorists-still-in-afghanistan-un-report-2495924 |work=NDTV.com |date=27 July 2021}}</ref>
| partof=
| predecessor=
| successor=
| allies=
* {{ISIL}}<ref name="nws"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parhlo.com/is-isis-coming-to-pakistan-ttp-and-isis-join-hands/|title=Is ISIS coming to Pakistan? TTP and ISIS join hands|date=16 October 2014|work=Parhlo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715124404/https://www.parhlo.com/is-isis-coming-to-pakistan-ttp-and-isis-join-hands/|archive-date=15 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
** {{flagicon image|Tnsm-flag.svg}} Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi<ref name="satp">{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/TNSM.htm|title=Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, Extremist Group of Pakistan|publisher=SATP|accessdate=2007-04-19|archive-date=2007-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525172646/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/TNSM.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|ISIL}} Islamic state Khorasan group<ref>{{Cite book|last=Giustozzi|first=Antonio|title=The Islamic State in Khorasan: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the New Central Asian Jihad|publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]|year=2018|isbn=978-1849049641|pages=137–138}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|AFG|Taliban}} [[Religion:Taliban|Taliban]]<ref name="rediff Baitullah Mehsud Taliban governor">{{cite web |last1=Shehzad |first1=Mohammad |title=Why is the Pakistan army scared of this man? |url=https://in.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/10pspec.htm |website=in.rediff.com |publisher=rediff |access-date=14 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216105921/http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/10pspec.htm |archive-date=16 December 2007 |date=10 March 2006 |quote=Baitullah was appointed as Mullah Omar's governor of the Mehsud tribe in a special ceremony attended by five leading Taliban commanders}}</ref><ref name="nyt - 3/26/2009 - pakistan and afghan taliban close ranks">{{cite web |last=Gall |first=Carlotta |title=Pakistan and Afghan Taliban Close Ranks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/asia/27taliban.html |website={{wipe|The New York Times}} |access-date=14 December 2020 |location=Islamabad, Pakistan |date=26 March 2009 |quote=The Afghan Taliban delegation urged the Pakistani Taliban leaders to settle their internal differences, scale down their activities in Pakistan and help counter the planned increase of American forces in Afghanistan, the fighters said.}}</ref><ref name="PIPS Noor Wali Mehsud">{{cite web |last1=Zahid |first1=Farhan |title=Profile of New TTP Chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud: Challenges and Implications |url=https://www.pakpips.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Profile-of-New-TTP-Chief-Mufti-Noor-Wali-Mehsud-Challenges-and-Implications.pdf |website=pakpips.com |publisher=Pak Institute for Peace Studies |access-date=14 December 2020 |location=Islamabad, Pakistan |page=4 |date=15 April 2019 |quote=According to Mehsud, the real jihad is against US forces in occupied Afghanistan to restore the Islamic Emirate while using tribal areas of Pakistan as base of operations and safe haven for both Taliban and Al-Qaeda. He further explains the goals and aims of the jihadi movement as: maintaining the independent status for Mehsud tribe, defeating the US in Afghanistan, establishing caliphate in Afghanistan}}</ref><ref name="advances">{{Cite news |last=Roggio |first=Bill |date=12 July 2021 |title=Taliban advances as U.S. completes withdrawal |work=FDD's Long War Journal |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/taliban-advances-as-u-s-completes-withdrawal.php |url-status=live |access-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724142322/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/taliban-advances-as-u-s-completes-withdrawal.php |archive-date=24 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=K J M Varma |date=5 July 2021 |title=Insurgent groups against Pakistan, China step up attacks amid Taliban offensive in Afghanistan: Report |work=Yahoo |url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/insurgent-groups-against-pakistan-china-120027716.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718174411/https://in.news.yahoo.com/insurgent-groups-against-pakistan-china-120027716.html |archive-date=18 July 2021 |quote=During the recent fighting in eastern and southern districts of Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban has been supported by the TTP insurgents [...] According to a UN monitoring report in June, some 5,000 TTP militants are currently based in Afghanistan.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210818-pakistan-cheers-taliban-out-of-fear-of-india-%E2%80%93-despite-spillover-threat|title=Pakistan cheers Taliban out of 'fear of India' – despite spillover threat|work=France 24|author=Tom Wheeldon|date=18 August 2021|quote=The Afghan militants' closeness to Pakistani jihadist group [https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210417-islamist-party-tehrik-e-labbaik-fuels-anti-france-violence-in-pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban] (TTP or, simply, the Pakistani Taliban) is a particular source of concern. The TTP have carried out scores of deadly attacks since their inception in the 2000s, including the infamous 2014 Peshawar school massacre. The Taliban and the TTP are 'two faces of the same coin', Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI boss Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed [https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pakistani-army-warns-of-blowback-in-crackdown-on-afghan-taliban/31338249.html acknowledged] at an off-the-record briefing in July. Indeed, the Taliban [https://twitter.com/SaleemMehsud/status/1427080535873048582 reportedly] freed a senior TTP commander earlier this month during their sweep through Afghanistan.  'Pakistan definitely worries about the galvanising effects the Taliban's victory will have on other Islamist militants, and especially the TTP, which was already resurging before the Taliban marched into Kabul,' Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, told FRANCE 24. 'It's a fear across the establishment.'}}</ref>

* [[File:AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg|25px]] Jundallah<ref name="Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State">{{cite news|title=Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-militants-is/pakistan-taliban-splinter-group-vows-allegiance-to-islamic-state-idUSKCN0J20YQ20141118|date=18 November 2014|access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>
*{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}} [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|Al-Qaeda]]
**{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}} Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.svg}} Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Sipah-e-Sahaba.jpg}} Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
|opponents= *{{CHN}}
*{{PAK}}
*{{US}}
*{{flagicon|Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan}} [[Religion:Taliban|Taliban]] (sometimes, per Pakistan)<ref>{{cite news |title=Taliban assure it won't allow TTP to use Afghan land against Islamabad: Pakistan government|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taliban-assure-it-wont-allow-ttp-to-use-afghan-land-against-islamabad-pakistan-government/article36057757.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1129697/14-dead-ttp-afghan-taliban-clash/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625054556/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1129697/14-dead-ttp-afghan-taliban-clash/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2021|title=14 dead in TTP-Afghan Taliban clash|date=25 August 2021|work=The Express Tribune|author=Tahir Khan}}</ref>
*{{flagicon image|Liwa Zainebiyoun infobox flag.png}} Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan<ref>Daily Times.com [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-4-2004_pg7_28 Vengeance, frictions reviving LJ and Sipah-e-Muhammad]. April 7th, 2004</ref>
|battles=[[Social:Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber Insurgency]]
*Operation Zarb-e-Azb
*Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
War in Afghanistan<br>Syrian Civil War
|status=
|designated_as_terror_group_by={{flag|Pakistan}}<br>{{USA}}<ref name="ust"/><br>{{flag|Canada}}<ref name="cnt"/><br>{{UK}}<ref name="ukt"/>
}}

'''Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan''' ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|تحریک طالبان پاکستان}}|lit=Taliban Movement in Pakistan}}, {{Small|abbr.}} '''TTP'''), alternatively referred to as the '''Pakistani Taliban''', is a Pashtun Islamist armed student group that is an [[Organization:Umbrella organization|umbrella organization]] of various student militant groups based along the Afghan–Pakistani border. Most Taliban groups in Pakistan coalesce under the TTP.<ref name='yusufzai20080922'>{{cite journal | title = A Who's Who of the Insurgency in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province: Part One – North and South Waziristan | journal = Terrorism Monitor | date = 22 September 2008 | first = Rahimullah | last = Yusufzai | volume = 6 | issue = 18 | url = http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=5169&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=167&no_cache=1 | access-date = 30 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101226171217/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=5169&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=167&no_cache=1 | archive-date = 26 December 2010 | url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2007, about 13&nbsp;groups united under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud to form the TTP.<ref name=abbash/>

Among the stated objectives of TTP is resistance against the Pakistani state.<ref name="abbash" /><ref name="gall2009327">{{cite news| author =Carlotta Gall, Ismail Khan, Pir Zubair Shah and Taimoor Shah| title =Pakistani and Afghan Taliban Unify in Face of U.S. Influx| work ={{wipe|The New York Times}}| date =26 March 2009| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/asia/27taliban.html| access-date =27 March 2009| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090401223858/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/asia/27taliban.html| archive-date =1 April 2009| url-status =live}}</ref> The TTP's aim is to overthrow the government of Pakistan by waging a terrorist campaign against the Pakistan armed forces and the state.<ref name="ref" /> The TTP depends on the tribal belt along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, from which it draws its recruits. The TTP receives ideological guidance from and maintains ties with [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|al-Qaeda]].<ref name="ref" />

Many of the militants who originally belonged to the TTP were killed as a result of the military operations that the Pakistan Armed Forces conducted in order to destroy the TTP's infrastructure and base of support in Pakistan. However, some of the TTP militants escaped into Afghanistan through the ungoverned areas of the Afghanistan–Pakistan border.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistani-taliban-between-infighting-government-crackdowns-and-daesh-25976|title=Pakistani Taliban: Between infighting, government crackdowns and Daesh|date=18 April 2019|work=TRT World|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418164507/https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistani-taliban-between-infighting-government-crackdowns-and-daesh-25976|archive-date=18 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In Afghanistan, some of the TTP militants joined Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province, while others remained part of the TTP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/look-islamic-states-operations-afghanistan|title=A Look at Islamic State's Operations in Afghanistan|date=29 April 2017|publisher=Voice of America|access-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712014545/https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/look-islamic-states-operations-afghanistan|archive-date=12 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2019}}, there are around 3,000 to 4,000 TTP militants in Afghanistan, according to a United States Department of Defense report.<ref name="inafghanistan" /><ref name="bajoriaj">{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/22064/shared_goals_for_pakistans_militants.html | title = Shared Goals for Pakistan's Militants | access-date = 26 January 2011 | last = Bajoria | first = Jayshree | author2 = Greg Bruno | date = 6 May 2010 | publisher = Council on Foreign Relations | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125042808/http://www.cfr.org/publication/22064/shared_goals_for_pakistans_militants.html | archive-date = 25 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="mazzetti" />

In 2020, after years of factionalism and infighting, the TTP under the leadership of Noor Wali Mehsud underwent reorganization and reunification. Between July and November 2020, the Amjad Farouqi group, one faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the Musa Shaheed Karwan group, Mehsud factions of the TTP, Mohmand Taliban, Bajaur Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, and Hizb-ul-Ahrar merged with TTP. This reorganization has made TTP more deadly and has led to increased attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/the-pakistani-taliban-is-back/|title=The Pakistani Taliban Is Back|date=9 March 2021 |work=The Diplomat}}</ref>

==History==

===Roots and development===
The roots of the TTP as an organization began in 2002 when the Pakistani military conducted incursions into the tribal areas to originally combat foreign (Afghan, Arab and [[Place:Central Asia|Central Asia]]n) militants fleeing from the war in Afghanistan into the neighboring tribal areas of {{wipe|Pakistan}}.<ref name="Bajoria">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/15422/pakistans_new_generation_of_terrorists.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F13611%2Fjayshree_bajoria%3Fgroupby%3D1%26hide%3D1%26id%3D13611%26filter%3D456|title=Pakistan's New Generation of Terrorists|last=Bajoria|first=Jayshree|date=6 February 2008|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|access-date=30 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514060717/http://www.cfr.org/publication/15422/pakistans_new_generation_of_terrorists.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F13611%2Fjayshree_bajoria%3Fgroupby%3D1&hide=1&id=13611&filter=456|archive-date=14 May 2009}}</ref><ref name=abbasszaffar>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3645114.stm |title=Pakistan's undeclared war |last=Abbas |first=Zaffar |publisher=BBC |quote=The latest military offensive in which air force bombers and gunship helicopters pounded an alleged training camp of suspected [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|al-Qaeda]] militants, has resulted in heavy casualties. And it has taken the conflict to an area [South Waziristan] that until now had remained relatively peaceful. ... The military offensive had been part of the overall war against al-Qaeda. ... Since the start of operation, the [Pakistani] military authorities have firmly established that a large number of Uzbek, Chechen and Arab militants were in the area. ... It was in July 2002 that Pakistani troops, for the first time in 55 years, entered the Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal agency. Soon they were in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, and later in South Waziristan. ... This was made possible after long negotiations with various tribes, who reluctantly agreed to allow the military's presence on the assurance that it would bring in funds and development work. But once the military action started in South Waziristan a number of Waziri sub-tribes took it as an attempt to subjugate them. Attempts to persuade them into handing over the foreign militants failed, and with an apparently mishandling by the authorities, the security campaign against suspected al-Qaeda militants turned into an undeclared war between the Pakistani military and the rebel tribesmen. |date=10 September 2004 |access-date=17 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915111021/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3645114.stm |archive-date=15 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> A 2004 article by the BBC explains:

<blockquote>The military offensive had been part of the overall war against al-Qaeda. ... Since the start of the operation, the [Pakistani] military authorities have firmly established that a large number of Uzbek, Chechen and Arab militants were in the area. ... It was in July 2002 that Pakistani troops, for the first time in 55 years, entered the Tirah Valley (Orakzai Agency) in Khyber tribal agency. Soon they were in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, and later in South Waziristan. ... This was made possible after long negotiations with various tribes, who reluctantly agreed to allow the military's presence on the assurance that it would bring in funds and development work. But once the military action started in South Waziristan a number of Waziri sub-tribes took it as an attempt to subjugate them. Attempts to persuade them into handing over the foreign militants failed, and with an apparently mishandling by the authorities, the security campaign against suspected al-Qaeda militants turned into an undeclared war between the Pakistani military and the rebel tribesmen.<ref name=abbasszaffar/></blockquote>

Many of the TTP's leaders are veterans of the fighting in Afghanistan and have supported the fight against the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force by providing soldiers, training, and logistics.<ref name=gall2009327/> In 2004 various tribal groups, as explained above, that would later form the TTP, effectively established their authority in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by concurrently engaging in military attacks and negotiating with [[Place:Islamabad|Islamabad]]. By this time, the militants had killed around 200 rival tribal elders in the region to consolidate control.<ref name=abbash/> Several Pakistani analysts also cite the inception of U.S. missile strikes in the FATA as a catalyzing factor in the rise of tribal militancy in the area. More specifically they single out an October 2006 strike on a [[Engineering:Madrasa|madrassah]] in Bajaur that was run by the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi as a turning point.<ref name="fair201101"/>

In December 2007, the existence of the TTP was officially announced under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud.<ref name=abbash>{{cite journal| last = Abbas| first = Hassan| title = A Profile of Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan| journal = CTC Sentinel| volume = 1| issue = 2| pages = 1–4| publisher = Combating Terrorism Center| location = West Point, NY| date = January 2008| url = http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html| access-date = 8 November 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170101073222/http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html| archive-date = 1 January 2017| url-status = live}}</ref> It was formed in response to Pakistan military operation against [[Religion:Al-Qaeda|Al-Qaeda]] militants in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in 2007.<ref name="ref">{{cite web|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/5981e3bd26.html|title=Country Reports on Terrorisms 2016 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan TTP|date=July 2017|work=Refworld|publisher=United States Department of State|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428085326/https://www.refworld.org/docid/5981e3bd26.html|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 25 August 2008, Pakistan banned the group, froze its bank accounts and assets, and barred it from media appearances. The government also announced that bounties would be placed on prominent leaders of the TTP.<ref>{{cite news |first= Syed Saleem |last= Shahzad |title= Setback for Pakistan's terror drive |url= http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH27Df01.html |work= Asia Times |date= 26 August 2008 |access-date= 26 August 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140430234409/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH27Df01.html |archive-date= 30 April 2014 |url-status=unfit}}</ref>

In late December 2008 and early January 2009, Mullah Omar sent a delegation, led by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mullah Abdullah Zakir, to persuade leading members of the TTP to put aside differences and aid the Afghan Taliban in combating the American presence in Afghanistan.<ref name=gall2009327/> Baitullah Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, and Maulavi Nazir agreed in February and formed the ''Shura Ittehadul Mujahideen'' (SIM), also transliterated as ''Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen'' and translated into English as the ''Council of United Mujahedeen''.<ref name=gall2009327/><ref name=khanhm>{{cite news| last = Khan| first = Haji Mujtaba| title = Taliban rename their group| work = The Nation| date = 23 February 2009|url=http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/23-Feb-2009/Taliban-rename-their-group| access-date = 30 March 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331165748/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/23-Feb-2009/Taliban-rename-their-group| archive-date = 31 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Three Taliban factions form Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahiden |publisher=The News |date=23 February 2009 |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=69346 |access-date=30 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125015145/http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=69346 |archive-date=25 November 2009}}</ref> In a written statement circulated in a one-page Urdu-language pamphlet, the three affirmed that they would put aside differences to fight American-led forces and reasserted their allegiance to Mullah Omar and [[Biography:Osama bin Laden|Osama bin Laden]].<ref name="gall2009327"/><ref name=khanhm/> However, the SIM did not last very long and collapsed shortly after its announcement.<ref name='fair201101'>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1353/asp.2011.0010 | title = The Militant Challenge in Pakistan | journal = Asia Policy | date = January 2011 | first = C. Christine | last = Fair | volume = 11 | issue = 1 | pages = 105–37 | s2cid = 155007730 | url = http://www.nbr.org/publications/asia_policy/AP11/AP11_F_MilitantPakistan.pdf | access-date = 17 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110609014558/http://www.nbr.org/publications/asia_policy/AP11/AP11_F_MilitantPakistan.pdf | archive-date = 9 June 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=roggio20090816>{{cite news
 | last = Roggio
 | first = Bill
 | title = South Waziristan Taliban Groups Clash
 | publisher = The Long War Journal
 | date = 16 August 2009
 | url = http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/south_waziristan_tal.php
 | access-date = 26 August 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090819063017/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/south_waziristan_tal.php
 | archive-date = 19 August 2009
 | url-status = live
}}</ref>

===Threats beyond Pakistan border===
Qari Mehsud indicated in a video recorded in April 2010 the TTP would make cities in the United States a "main target" in response to U.S. drone attacks on TTP leaders.<ref>{{cite news| last = Roggio| first = Bill| title = Hakeemullah Mehsud breaks his silence, threatens US| publisher = Long War Journal| date = 3 May 2010| url = http://www.longwarjournal.org/videos/2010/05/hakeemullah_mehsud_breaks_his.php| access-date = 6 May 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100505194328/http://www.longwarjournal.org/videos/2010/05/hakeemullah_mehsud_breaks_his.php| archive-date = 5 May 2010| url-status = live}}</ref> The TTP claimed responsibility for the December 2009 suicide attack on CIA facilities in Camp Chapman in Afghanistan, as well as the attempted bombing in Times Square in May 2010.<ref name="bajoriaj" /><ref name=mazzetti>{{cite news| last = Mazzetti| first = Mark| title = Evidence Mounts for Taliban Role in Car Bomb Plot| work = The New York Times| date = 6 May 2010| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/nyregion/06bomb.html| access-date = 6 May 2010| archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/67GfBoXTA?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/nyregion/06bomb.html?_r=1| archive-date = 28 April 2012| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name='ap20100101'/><ref name='reuters20100111'/><ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Joseph |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/us/politics/10holder.html |title=Pakistani Taliban Behind Times Sq. Plot, Holder Says |work=The New York Times |date=2 May 2010 |access-date=9 May 2010 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/67GehHR2E?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/us/politics/10holder.html?_r=1 |archive-date=28 April 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2012, the TTP threatened to attack Myanmar in the wake of sectarian violence against Rohingya Muslims in the Arakan state. TTP spokesman Ehsanullah demanded the Pakistani government sever relations with Myanmar and close the Burmese embassy in Islamabad, and warned of attacks against Burmese interests if no action was taken. While the TTP has been conducting an insurgency in Pakistan, its ability to expand operations to other countries has been questioned. This was a rare occasion in which it warned of violence in another country.<ref>[http://tribune.com.pk/story/413231/taliban-threaten-myanmar-over-rohingya/ Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan threaten Myanmar over Rohingya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728223044/http://tribune.com.pk/story/413231/taliban-threaten-myanmar-over-rohingya/ |date=28 July 2012}}, The Express Tribune</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pak-taliban-threaten-to-attack-myanmar-over-rohingya-muslims/979769/|title=Pak Taliban threaten to attack Myanmar over Rohingya Muslims | date= 26 July 2012}}</ref>

===Leadership crisis===
In August 2009, a missile strike from a suspected U.S. [[Engineering:Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]] killed Baitullah Mehsud. The TTP soon held a [[Religion:Shura|shura]] to appoint his successor.<ref>{{cite news
 |last        = Toosi
 |first       = Nahal
 |author2     = Ishtiaq Mahsud
 |title       = Pakistani Taliban head's death a blow to militant
 |publisher   = Associated Press via Yahoo! News
 |date        = 7 August 2009
 |url         = https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan;_ylt=AuOgjAXTAdbFaBSJ0GNeaCr34494;_ylu=X3oDMTJlc21wNG83BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODA3L2FzX3Bha2lzdGFuBGNwb3MDMwRwb3MDMwRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA3Bha2lzdGFuaXRhbA--
 |access-date  = 7 August 2009
 |url-status  = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090810184923/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan
 |archive-date = 10 August 2009}}</ref> Government sources reported that fighting broke out during the shura between Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman. While Pakistani news channels reported that Hakimullah had been killed in the shooting, Interior Minister Rehman Malik could not confirm his death.<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Fighting erupts between Taliban rivals
 | work = Financial Times
 | date = 8 August 2009
 | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7dd1aa9c-8423-11de-aa5d-00144feabdc0.html
 | access-date = 8 August 2009
 | quote = Pakistani news channels were carrying unconfirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, one of the movement's most powerful commanders, had been killed at a shura, or council meeting, held to decide who would succeed slain leader Baitullah Mehsud. "The infighting was between Wali-ur-Rehman and Hakimullah Mehsud," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters. "We have information that one of them has been killed. Who was killed we will be able to say later after confirming."
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141012235600/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7dd1aa9c-8423-11de-aa5d-00144feabdc0.html
 | archive-date = 12 October 2014
 | url-status = live
}}</ref> On 18 August, Pakistani security officials announced the capture of Maulvi Omar, chief spokesperson of the TTP. Omar, who had denied the death of Baitullah, retracted his previous statements and confirmed the leader's death in the missile strike. He also acknowledged turmoil among TTP leadership following the killing.<ref name=nytimes20080818>{{cite news
 | last = Khan
 | first = Ismail
 | title = Pakistan Captures Top Taliban Aide
 | work = {{wipe|The New York Times}}
 | date = 18 August 2008
 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19pstan.html
 | access-date = 19 August 2008
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825191406/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19pstan.html
 | archive-date = 25 August 2009
 | url-status = live
}}</ref>

After Omar's capture, Maulana Faqir Mohammed announced to the BBC that he would assume temporary leadership of the TTP and that Muslim Khan would serve as the organization's primary spokesperson. He also maintained that Baitullah had not been killed, but rather was in bad health. Faqir further elaborated that decisions over leadership of the umbrella group would only be made in consultation and consensus with a variety of different TTP leaders. "The congregation of TTP leaders has 32 members and no important decision can be taken without their consultation," he told the BBC.<ref name=bbc20090819>{{cite news
 | title = Pakistan Taliban spokesman named
 | work = BBC News
 | date = 19 August 2009
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8208750.stm
 | access-date = 19 August 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090824034829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8208750.stm
 | archive-date = 24 August 2009
 | url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Maulvi Faqeer acting Tehrik-i-Taliban chief: report |publisher=Dawn |date=19 August 2009 |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-maulvi-faqeer-is-acting-tehrik-i-taliban-chief-qs-11 |access-date=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821132544/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-maulvi-faqeer-is-acting-tehrik-i-taliban-chief-qs-11 |archive-date=21 August 2009}}</ref> He reported to the AFP that both Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman had approved his appointment as temporary leader of the militant group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Faqir claims TTP leadership, Muslim Khan replaces Omer |work=Daily Times|date=20 August 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\20\story_20-8-2009_pg7_4 |access-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822053543/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C20%5Cstory_20-8-2009_pg7_4 |archive-date=22 August 2009}}</ref> Neither militant had publicly confirmed Faqir's statement, and analysts cited by ''Dawn News'' believed the assumption of leadership actually indicated a power struggle.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rifts as Pakistani Taliban deputy claims leadership |publisher=Dawn News |date=20 August 2009 |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-rifts-as-pakistani-taliban-deputy-claims-leadership-qs-10 |access-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825001536/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-rifts-as-pakistani-taliban-deputy-claims-leadership-qs-10 |archive-date=25 August 2009}}</ref>

Two days later Faqir Mohammed retracted his claims of temporary leadership and said that Hakimullah Mehsud had been selected leader of the TTP.<ref name="Dawn News"/> Faqir declared that the 42-member shura had also decided that Azam Tariq would serve as the TTP's primary spokesperson, rather than Muslim Khan.<ref name=dt20090823>{{cite news|last=Khan |first=Hasbanullah |title=Hakeemullah appointed Baitullah's "successor" |work=Daily Times|date=23 August 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\23\story_23-8-2009_pg1_5 |access-date=24 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109081440/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C23%5Cstory_23-8-2009_pg1_5 |archive-date=9 November 2009}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Hakimullah, the TTP intensified its suicide campaign against the Pakistani state and against civilian (particularly Shia, Qadiyani and Sufi) targets.<ref name="fair201101"/>

===Designation as a terrorist organization===

On 1 September 2010, the United States designated the TTP as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and identified Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali ur-Rehman as specially designated global terrorists. The designation of the TTP as an FTO makes it a crime to provide support or to do business with the group and also allows the U.S. to freeze its assets. The US State Department also issued a $5&nbsp;million reward for information on the two individuals' locations.<ref name="ust">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/09/146545.htm|title=Designations of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and Two Senior Leaders|publisher=US State Department|date=1 September 2010|access-date=15 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310213244/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/09/146545.htm|archive-date=10 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name='nyt20100901'>{{cite news|first=Charlie|last=Savage|title=U.S. Adds Legal Pressure on Pakistani Taliban|date=1 September 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/world/asia/02talib.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429235505/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/world/asia/02talib.html|archive-date=29 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2011, the British government moved to classify the TTP as a banned terrorist organization under its Terrorism Act 2000.<ref name="ukt">{{cite news|title=Britain Moves to Ban Pakistani Taliban|date=18 January 2011|publisher=Voice of America|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Britain-Moves-to-Ban-Pakistani-Taliban--114127334.html|work=VOA News|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201052941/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Britain-Moves-to-Ban-Pakistani-Taliban--114127334.html|archive-date=1 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2011, the Canadian government also added the TTP to its list of banned terrorist organizations.<ref name="cnt">{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Macleod |title =Canada bans Pakistani Taliban as a terror group |date=5 July 2011 |publisher=Postmedia Network Inc. |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Canada+bans+Pakistani+Taliban+terror+group/5054370/story.html |work=Vancouver Sun |location=Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718222524/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Canada+bans+Pakistani+Taliban+terror+group/5054370/story.html |archive-date=18 July 2011 |access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref>

===Internal splits===
In February 2014, a group of TTP terrorists under the lead of Maulana Umar Qasmi broke away from the organization to form the '''[[Religion:Ahrar-ul-Hind|Ahrar-ul-Hind]]''', in protest against the TTP's negotiations with the Pakistan government.<ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/pakistani_jihadists.php Pakistani jihadists form Ahrar-ul-Hind, vow to continue attacks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103001426/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/pakistani_jihadists.php |date=3 November 2014}} - Long War Journal, 11 February 2014</ref>

In May 2014 the Mehsud faction of the TTP defected from the main group to form a breakaway unit called '''Tehreek-e-Taliban South Waziristan''' led by Khalid Mehsud. The breakaway group was unhappy with the various activities of the TTP, saying in a statement "We consider kidnapping for ransom, extortion, damage to public facilities and bombings to be un-Islamic. TTP Mehsud group believes in stopping the oppressor from cruelty, and supporting the oppressed."<ref name="MehsudDefection">{{cite web|title=Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan splits with major faction walking out|url=http://www.pakistannews.net/index.php/sid/222402443/scat/8c3d7d78943a99c7/ht/Tehrik-i-Taliban-Pakistan-splits-with-major-faction-walking-out|date=28 May 2014|access-date=28 May 2014|work=pakistannews.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051356/http://www.pakistannews.net/index.php/sid/222402443/scat/8c3d7d78943a99c7/ht/Tehrik-i-Taliban-Pakistan-splits-with-major-faction-walking-out|archive-date=29 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Mehsuds were widely seen as the most important group in the TTP and their loss was regarded as a major blow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/08/28/national/new-taliban-group-vows-attacks-in-pakistan/|title=New Taliban group vows attacks in Pakistan|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103084838/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/08/28/national/new-taliban-group-vows-attacks-in-pakistan/|archive-date=3 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, the TTP announced that the Mehsud faction had rejoined the group, following the "defection of the rogue elements to the rival parties".<ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/02/mehsud-faction-rejoins-the-movement-of-the-taliban-in-pakistan.php Mehsud faction rejoins the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205110627/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/02/mehsud-faction-rejoins-the-movement-of-the-taliban-in-pakistan.php |date=5 February 2017}} - Long War Journal, 4 February 2017</ref>

In August 2014, hardline elements of the TTP from four of the seven tribal districts formed a separate group called '''Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat-ul-Ahrar''', led by the Mohmand Agency commander Omar Khalid Khorosani,<ref name=nytimesAhrar>{{cite news|title=Hard-Line Splinter Group, Galvanized by ISIS, Emerges From Pakistani Taliban|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/world/asia/hard-line-splinter-group-galvanized-by-isis-emerges-from-pakistani-taliban.html?_r=0|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|date=26 August 2014|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028080409/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/world/asia/hard-line-splinter-group-galvanized-by-isis-emerges-from-pakistani-taliban.html?_r=0|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> after disagreeing with Fazlullah's order to fight the Pakistani Army's Operation Zarb-e-Azb offensive in the Tribal Areas.<ref name=telegraph5Sep>{{cite news|title=Pakistan Taliban splits 'over war with Islamabad'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11077342/Pakistan-Taliban-splits-over-war-with-Islamabad.html|work=The Telegraph|date=5 September 2014|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929144839/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11077342/Pakistan-Taliban-splits-over-war-with-Islamabad.html|archive-date=29 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in March 2015, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar's spokesman announced that they were rejoining the TTP.<ref name=reuters12March>{{cite news|title=Pakistani splinter group rejoins Taliban amid fears of isolation|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-militants-alliance-idUSKBN0M81WF20150312|work={{wipe|Reuters}}|date=12 March 2015|access-date=13 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314000715/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-pakistan-militants-alliance-idUSKBN0M81WF20150312|archive-date=14 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
Some Uzbek and Arab fighters previously working with the TTP reportedly began leaving Pakistan to go to Iraq to fight alongside the [[Religion:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]. In the same month, Asmatullah Muawiya, the commander of the Punjabi Taliban, announced that his faction was ending their armed struggle against the Pakistani state.<ref name=telegraph14Sep>{{cite news|title=Deadly Taliban group gives up armed struggle in Pakistan|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11095213/Deadly-Taliban-group-gives-up-armed-struggle-in-Pakistan.html|work=The Telegraph|date=14 September 2014|access-date=3 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024184128/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11095213/Deadly-Taliban-group-gives-up-armed-struggle-in-Pakistan.html|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2014, the TTP's spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, and the group's commanders in Orakzai, Kurram and Khyber tribal regions and Peshawar and Hangu Districts defected from the TTP and pledged [[Religion:Bay'ah|allegiance]] to [[Religion:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]] (IS).<ref name=isis>{{cite news|title=Pakistan Taliban sack spokesman Shahidullah Shahid for IS vow|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29640242|access-date=3 November 2014|work=BBC News|date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024032804/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29640242|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Organizational structure==

===Overview===
The TTP differs in structure to the Afghan Taliban in that it lacks a central command and is a much looser coalition of various militant groups, united by hostility towards the central government in Islamabad.<ref name="scott">{{cite news|last=Shane|first=Scott|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|title=Insurgents Share a Name, but Pursue Different Goals|date=22 October 2009|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|access-date=26 January 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016000327/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html|archive-date=16 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=siddiqa>{{cite journal|title=Pakistan's Counterterrorism Strategy: Separating Friends from Enemies |journal=The Washington Quarterly |year=2011 |first=Ayesha |last=Siddiqa |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=149–162 |doi=10.1080/0163660X.2011.538362 |s2cid=54884433 |url=http://www.twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |access-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224230305/http://twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=eliasb>{{cite journal | title = Know Thine Enemy | journal = Foreign Affairs | date = 2 November 2009 | first = Barbara | last = Elias | url = http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | access-date = 11 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091120223118/http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show | archive-date = 20 November 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref> Several analysts describe the TTP's structure as a loose network of dispersed constituent groups that vary in size and in levels of coordination.<ref name="fair201101"/> The various factions of the TTP tend to be limited to their local areas of influence and often lack the ability to expand their operations beyond that territory.<ref name='nyt20100506'/>

In its original form, the TTP had Baitullah Mehsud as its ''amir''. He was followed in the leadership hierarchy by Hafiz Gul Bahadur as ''naib amir,'' or deputy. Faqir Mohammed was the third most influential leader.<ref name=abbash/> The group contained members from all of FATA's seven tribal agencies as well as several districts of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), including Swat, Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohistan, Buner, and Malakand.<ref name=abbash/> Some 2008 estimates placed the total number of operatives at 30–35,000, although it is difficult to judge the reliability of such estimates.<ref name=Bajoria/>

In the aftermath of Baitullah Mehsud's death, the organization experienced turmoil among its leading militants. By the end of August 2009, however, leading members in the TTP had confirmed Hakimullah Mehsud as its second amir. Government and some TTP sources told the media that Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in January 2010 by injuries sustained during a U.S. drone attack. Unconfirmed reports from Orakzai Agency stated, after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, Malik Noor Jamal, alias Maulana Toofan, had assumed leadership of the TTP until the group determined how to proceed.<ref name=CNNdead>{{cite news
|title=Sources: Pakistani Taliban leader is dead
|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/pakistan.meshud.dead/
|work=CNN
|date=9 February 2010
|access-date=11 February 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211034800/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/pakistan.meshud.dead/
|archive-date=11 February 2010
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name=int20100210>{{Cite news|title=Maulana Toofan new acting TTP chief? |newspaper=The News International |publisher=Jang Multimedia |date=10 February 2010 |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27020 |access-date=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210101650/http://thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27020 |archive-date=10 February 2010}}</ref>

Reuters, citing a report from ''The Express Tribune'', indicated in July 2011 that Hakimullah Mehsud's grip on the TTP leadership was weakening after the defection of Fazal Saeed Haqqani, the TTP leader in the Kurram region, from the umbrella militant group. Haqqani cited disagreements over attacks on civilians as reason for the split. The paper quoted an associate of Mehsud's as saying that "it looks as though he is just a figurehead now... He can hardly communicate with his commanders in other parts of the tribal areas ... he is in total isolation. Only a few people within the TTP know where he is."<ref name='reuters20110705'>{{cite news | title = Pakistan Taliban leader "isolated," facing splits: report | date = 5 July 2011 | publisher = Thomson Reuters | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSTRE76419E20110705 | work = Reuters | access-date = 10 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708163805/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/05/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSTRE76419E20110705 | archive-date = 8 July 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> A December 2011 report published in ''The Express Tribune'' further described the network as "crumbling" with "funds dwindling and infighting intensifying." According to various TTP operatives, the difficulties stemmed from differences of opinion within TTP leadership on pursuing peace talks with Islamabad.<ref name='et20111219'>{{cite news | first = Zia | last = Khan | title = Twilight of the Taliban: TTP buckles under internal fissures, external pressure | date = 19 December 2011 | publisher = The Express Tribune News Network | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/308623/twilight-of-the-taliban-ttp-buckles-under-internal-fissures-external-pressure/ | work = The Express Tribune | access-date = 19 December 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120107202928/http://tribune.com.pk/story/308623/twilight-of-the-taliban-ttp-buckles-under-internal-fissures-external-pressure/ | archive-date = 7 January 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref> In December 2012 senior Pakistan military officials told Reuters that Hakimullah Mehsud had lost control of the group and that Wali-ur-Rehman was expected to be formally announced as the head of the TTP.<ref name="reuters20121206">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSBRE8B50G920121206 | title=Exclusive: Emerging Pakistan Taliban chief to focus on Afghan war | work=Reuters | date=2012-12-06 | access-date=6 December 2012 | author=Zahra-Malik, Mehreen | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172439/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSBRE8B50G920121206 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> However a video released later in the month showed Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman seated next to each other, with Mehsud calling reports of a split between the two as propaganda.<ref name="reuters20121228">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSBRE8BR06F20121228 | title=Pakistan Taliban chief says group will negotiate, but not disarm | work=Reuters | date=2012-12-28 | access-date=28 December 2012 | author=Mehsud, Saud | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228225621/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSBRE8BR06F20121228 | archive-date=28 December 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Mehsud and Rahman were later killed in separate airstrikes in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=TTP confirms Waliur Rehman's death; suspends talks|url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/1014906/ttp-confirms-waliur-rehmans-death-suspends-talks|access-date=14 February 2020|newspaper=Dawn|date=30 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistani Taliban confirm leader killed by drone|url=http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/asia/2013/11/pakistani_taliban_confirm_leader_killed_by_drone|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=2 November 2013}}</ref>

In February 2020, the TTP reported the deaths of four TTP senior leaders within a one-week period.<ref name=fourdeaths>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/world/4-key-terrorists-wanted-by-pakistan-killed-since-mysterious-escape-of-taliban-leader/365567/|title = 4 key terrorists wanted by Pakistan killed since mysterious escape of Taliban leader|date = 14 February 2020}}</ref> All of these four leaders, among them former TTP deputy leader Sheikh Khalid Haqqani and Hakimullah Mehsud group leader Sheharyar Mehsud,<ref name=hakigroupleader>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trackingterrorism.org/chatter/sheharyar-mehsud-tehreek-i-taliban-pakistan-ttp-commander-killed-kunar-afghanistan-13-februa|title = Sheharyar Mehsud, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander killed in Kunar, Afghanistan- 13 February 2020 &#124; Chatter Control &#124; TRAC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/key-pakistani-taliban-leader-killed-in-afghanistan/1727178|title=Key Pakistani Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan}}</ref> were killed within a month of each other as well.<ref name=fourdeaths />

===Current leaders===
*Noor Wali Mehsud (alias Abu Mansoor Asim) – ''Emir'' (chief) of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.<ref name="LWJ-17Aug2020">{{cite web |last1=Joscelyn |first1=Thomas |title=Pakistani Taliban splinter factions officially rejoin group |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/08/pakistani-taliban-splinter-factions-officially-rejoin-group.php |website=longwarjournal.org |date=17 August 2020 |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref>
*Muzahim (alias Mufti Hazrat) – ''Naib emir'' (deputy chief) of TTP.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Naimat |title=Fazlullah is dead, confirms TTP; Noor Wali Mehsud appointed new chief |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1326706/world |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=arabnews.com |date=23 June 2018}}</ref>
*Omar Khalid Khorasani - Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction.<ref name="LWJ-17Aug2020"/>
*Hafiz Gul Bahadur – Powerful faction in North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Latif |first1=Aamir |title=What's brewing in northwest Pakistan? |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/whats-brewing-in-northwest-pakistan/1500402 |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=aa.com.tr |date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
*Aleem Khan Khushali - Faction active in North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three terrorists killed in North Waziristan |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/791611-three-terrorists-killed-in-north-waziristan |access-date=28 February 2021 |work=thenews.com.pk |agency=Associated Press of Pakistan |date=18 February 2021}}</ref>
*Khalid Balti (alias Muhammad Khurasani) – Central spokesman of TTP.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahil |first1=Muhammad |title=Former Taliban spokesman exposes militants as enemies of Islam |url=https://afghanistan.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_st/features/2017/05/02/feature-02 |website=afghanistan.asia-news.com |date=2 May 2017 |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref>

===Media===
The TTP's "media arm" is "Umar Media".<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0715/Pakistani-Taliban-release-Faisal-Shahzad-s-martyrdom-tape-video |title=Pakistani Taliban release Faisal Shahzad's martyrdom tape [video] |journal=The Christian Science Monitor|publisher=CSMonitor.com |access-date=2012-12-11 |date=15 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302033310/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/0715/Pakistani-Taliban-release-Faisal-Shahzad-s-martyrdom-tape-video |archive-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Umar Media provides a "behind the scenes" look at Taliban attacks. Video clips are made in Pashto with [[Social:Urdu|Urdu]] subtitles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM-iLdIcbPc |title=cid attack karachi wasiyat |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-11-12 |access-date=2012-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217082248/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM-iLdIcbPc |archive-date=17 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="indiakashmir">{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/taliban-vows-to-unleash-jihad-in-kashmir-implement-sharia/20130108.htm|title=Taliban vows to unleash jihad in Kashmir, implement Sharia|work=Rediff|date=8 January 2013|access-date=10 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111034630/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/taliban-vows-to-unleash-jihad-in-kashmir-implement-sharia/20130108.htm|archive-date=11 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Umar Media also reportedly operated a [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] page which had been created in September 2012 and had a few "likes" and a "handful of messages written in English". According to then TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, the page was being "temporarily" used before the TTP would plan to launch its own website. SITE Intelligence Group described the Facebook page as a "recruitment center" looking for people to edit the TTP's quarterly magazine and videos.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/476533/pakistani-taliban-recruits-via-facebook/|title=Pakistani Taliban recruits via Facebook|work=The Express Tribune|date=7 December 2012|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209010250/http://tribune.com.pk/story/476533/pakistani-taliban-recruits-via-facebook/|archive-date=9 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Facebook-page"/> The page was soon removed by Facebook and the account suspended.<ref name="Facebook-page">{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/478205/facebook-shuts-down-taliban-account-report/|title=Facebook shuts down Taliban account: Report|work=The Express Tribune|date=11 December 2012|access-date=10 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113201752/http://tribune.com.pk/story/478205/facebook-shuts-down-taliban-account-report/|archive-date=13 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Relationship with other militant groups==
In a May 2010 interview, U.S. Gen. David Petraeus described the TTP's relationship with other militant groups as difficult to decipher: "There is clearly a symbiotic relationship between all of these different organizations: al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, TNSM [Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi]. And it's very difficult to parse and to try to distinguish between them. They support each other, they coordinate with each other, sometimes they compete with each other, [and] sometimes they even fight each other. But at the end of the day, there is quite a relationship between them."<ref name="bajoriaj"/>

Director of National Intelligence and United States Navy Admiral, Dennis C. Blair, told U.S. senators that the Pakistani state and army meanwhile draw clear distinctions among different militant groups.<ref name="Mazetti2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/world/asia/26tribal.html?_r=1 |title=Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, U.S. Aides Say |last=Mazetti |first=Marc |author2=Eric Schmitt |work=The New York Times|date=26 March 2009 |access-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606064239/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/world/asia/26tribal.html?_r=1 |archive-date=6 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> While links exist between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, the two groups are distinct enough for the Pakistani military to be able to view them very differently.<ref name=waldman1>{{Citation | first = Matt | last = Waldman | contribution = The Sun in the Sky: The Relationship between Pakistan's ISI and Afghan Insurgents | title = Crisis States Discussion Papers | publisher = Crisis States Research Centre | place = London | page = 3 | date = June 2010 | contribution-url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/multimedia/20106138531279734lse-isi-taliban.pdf | quote = Separately, there are a wide range of Islamist militant groups, principally based in north-west Pakistan, a large number of which coalesced under the banner of Tehrik-e-Taleban-e- Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban (Franco 2009:269). Consequently, the Pakistani military has undertaken extensive operations against their strongholds in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.9 While there are undoubtedly links between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, they appear to be sufficiently distinct for the Pakistani military and ISI to treat them very differently. }}</ref> American officials said that the S Wing of the Pakistani ISI provided direct support to three major groups carrying out attacks in Afghanistan: the Afghan [[Religion:Taliban|Taliban]] based in Quetta, Pakistan, commanded by Mullah Muhammad Omar; the militant network run by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar; and a different group run by the guerrilla leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, all considered a strategic asset by Pakistan in contrast to the TTP run by Hakimullah Mehsud, which has engaged the Pakistani army in combat.<ref name="Mazetti2009" />

===Afghan Taliban===
{{Main|Religion:Taliban}}
The Afghan [[Religion:Taliban|Taliban]] and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan differ greatly in their history, leadership and goals although they are both predominantly Pashtun.<ref name="scott" /><ref name=siddiqa /> The two groups are distinct, though linked, movements.<ref name='ap20100101' /><ref name='nyt20100901' /> The two groups also don't get along with each other.<ref name="fpt"/> An Afghan Taliban spokesman told ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'': "We don't like to be involved with them, as we have rejected all affiliation with Pakistani Taliban fighters ... We have sympathy for them as Muslims, but beside that, there is nothing else between us."<ref name=gall2009327 /><ref name=dt20090422 /> Peshawar-based security analyst Brigadier (retd) Muhamaad Saad believes the Taliban are not a monolithic entity. "They can be divided into three broad categories: [Afghan] Kandahari Taliban, led by Mullah Omar; [Afghan] Paktia Taliban, led by Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani; and [Pakistani] Salfi Taliban [TTP]," he said. "It's the Salfi Taliban who pose a real threat to Pakistan. They may not be obeying the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar."<ref name=et20110911>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/249872/border-incursions-suspicions-grow-about-afghan-support-for-ttp/|title=Border incursions: Suspicions grow about Afghan support for TTP|work=The Express Tribune|date=11 September 2011|access-date=11 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930150419/http://tribune.com.pk/story/249872/border-incursions-suspicions-grow-about-afghan-support-for-ttp/|archive-date=30 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Some regional experts state that the common name "Taliban" may be more misleading than illuminating. Gilles Dorronsoro of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes that "[t]he fact that they have the same name causes all kinds of confusion."<ref name="scott" /> As the Pakistani Army began offensives against the Pakistani Taliban, many unfamiliar with the region mistakenly thought that the assault was against the Afghan Taliban of Mullah Omar.<ref name="scott" />

The TTP has almost exclusively targeted elements of the Pakistani state.<ref name="bajoriaj" /> The Afghan Taliban however have historically relied on support from the Pakistani army in their campaign to control Afghanistan.<ref name='fair201101' /><ref name="George Washington University">{{cite web |year=2007 |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB227/index.htm#17 |title=Documents Detail Years of Pakistani Support for Taliban, Extremists |publisher=George Washington University |access-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002159/http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB227/index.htm#17 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Regular Pakistani army troops fought alongside the Afghan Taliban in the War in Afghanistan (1996–2001).<ref name="Webster University Press Book">{{cite book |last=Marcela Grad|title=Massoud: An Intimate Portrait of the Legendary Afghan Leader|edition=1 March 2009 |page=310 |publisher=Webster University Press}}</ref> Major leaders of the Afghan Taliban including Mullah Omar, Jalaluddin Haqqani and Siraj Haqqani are believed to enjoy safe haven in Pakistan.<ref name="nytimes 2008-09-09" /> In 2006, Jalaluddin Haqqani was called a 'Pakistani asset' by a senior official of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.<ref name="nytimes 2008-09-09">[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/world/asia/09iht-09pstan.15996896.html U.S. attack on Taliban kills 23 in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203094103/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/world/asia/09iht-09pstan.15996896.html |date=3 December 2016}}, ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'', 9 September 2008</ref> Pakistan regards the Haqqanis as an important force for protecting its interests in Afghanistan and therefore has been unwilling to move against them.<ref name="nytimes 2008-09-09" />

In 2007, Pakistani militants loyal to Baitullah Mehsud created the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and killed around 200 rival Pakistani leaders. They officially defined goals to establish their rule over Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas subsequently engaging the Pakistani army in heavy combat operations. Intelligence analysts believe that these TTP's attacks on the Pakistani government, police and army strained relations between the Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban.<ref name="scott" /> Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar asked the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in late 2008 and early 2009 to stop attacks inside Pakistan.

In February 2009, the three dominant Pakistani Taliban leaders agreed to put aside their differences to help counter a planned increase in American troops in Afghanistan and reaffirmed their allegiance to Mullah Omar (and to [[Biography:Osama bin Laden|Osama bin Laden]]).<ref name=gall2009327 /> The agreement among the TTP leaders was short-lived, however, and instead of fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban the rival Pakistani factions soon engaged in combat with each other.<ref name='fair201101' /><ref name=roggio20090816 />

Many Afghan Taliban officials (including Mullah Omar) resent the TTP's violent campaign against Pakistan. Afghan Talibans and TTP have also conducted attacks against each other. On 10 October 2013, heavily armed Afghan Talibans attacked a TTP base in Kunar province of Afghanistan. The attack resulted in the death of three TTP commanders. However, TTP denied any losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1048794|title=TTP denies Fazlullah Killed in clash with Afghan Talibans:report|date=10 October 2013|work=Dawn News|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428024702/https://www.dawn.com/news/1048794|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Again on 25 June 2016, Afghan Talibans and TTP clashed with each other in the Kunar province of Afghanistan. Afghan defense ministry claims that eight TTP militants and six Afghan Talibans were killed in the clash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1129697/14-dead-ttp-afghan-taliban-clash/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625054556/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1129697/14-dead-ttp-afghan-taliban-clash/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2016|title=14 dead in TTP-Afghan Taliban clash|date=25 June 2016|work=The Express Tribune|author=Tahir Khan}}</ref> Moreover, Some Sources also claim that TTP was behind the death of Nasiruddin Haqqani because TTP believed that Haqqani Network was behind the death of Hakimullah Mehsud as they disclosed whereabouts of Hakimullah Mehsud to US military in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/pakistan/main/2014/02/19/feature-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808215049/http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/pakistan/main/2014/02/19/feature-01|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 August 2014|title=Afghan Taliban internal differences deepen|date=19 February 2014|work=Central Asia Online}}</ref><ref name="fpt">{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/25/when-the-afghan-and-pakistani-taliban-unite/|title=When the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban Unite|date=25 March 2014|work=Foreign Policy|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428024700/https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/25/when-the-afghan-and-pakistani-taliban-unite/|archive-date=28 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Recently following the TTP's Peshawar school massacre, the leaders of the Afghan Taliban condemned the TTP's actions on the school, saying it was "Un-Islamic".<ref name="IBT">{{cite news |last=Sridharan |first=Vasudevan |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/peshawar-massacre-afghan-taliban-condemn-un-islamic-pakistan-school-carnage-1479853 |title=Afghanistan: Afghan Taliban condemned 'un-Islamic' Pakistan school carnage |work=International Business Times |date=17 December 2014 |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622032821/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/peshawar-massacre-afghan-taliban-condemn-un-islamic-pakistan-school-carnage-1479853 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Cross-border controversy====

In July 2011, after Pakistani missile attacks against Afghan provinces, Pakistani media reports alleged that senior Pakistani Taliban leaders were operating from Afghanistan to launch attacks against Pakistani border posts. According to the reports, Qari Zia-ur-Rahman hosted Faqir Muhammad in Kunar province while Sheikh Dost Muhammad, a local Afghan Taliban leader, hosted Maulana Fazlullah in Nuristan province. Faqir Muhammad, who claimed responsibility for a 4 July 2011 attack on a paramilitary checkpoint and for similar attacks in June 2011 on several border villages in Bajaur, stated during a radio broadcast, "Our fighters carried out these two attacks from Afghanistan, and we will launch more such attacks inside Afghanistan and in Pakistan." Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid strongly rejected the reports and denied the possibility of Pakistani Taliban setting up bases in Afghan Taliban-controlled areas.<ref name='expresstribune20110708'>{{cite news |first=Khan |last=Tahir |title=Cross-border cooperation: Ties that bind militants persist |date=8 July 2011 |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/204989/cross-border-cooperation-ties-that-bind-militants-persist/ |work=The Express Tribune |access-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709070351/http://tribune.com.pk/story/204989/cross-border-cooperation-ties-that-bind-militants-persist/ |archive-date=9 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name='ap20110707'>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Anwarullah |last2=Abbot |first2=Sebastian |title=Taliban commander back on the air in Pakistan |date=7 July 2011 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/taliban-commander-back-on-the-air-in-pakistan/ |work=The Seattle Times|agency=Associated Press |access-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421233157/http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/taliban-commander-back-on-the-air-in-pakistan/ |archive-date=21 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tameem Nuristani, Governor of Afghanistan's Nuristan Province, told ''The Express Tribune'' that while the "Afghan Taliban have never carried out cross-border attacks in Pakistan," TTP militants may have "safe-havens" in Kunar and Nuristan in "areas where the government's writ does not exist".<ref name=et20110911 />

In June 2012 a spokesman from the TTP's Malakand division revealed to ''The Express Tribune'' that TTP militants "regularly move across the porous border" to stage attacks against Pakistan but had only been in Afghanistan for a few months previously, contrary to Pakistani claims that the TTP had long used Afghan territory as a staging ground.<ref name="et20120626">{{cite news |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/399205/ttp-admits-to-having-safe-haven-in-afghanistan/ |title=TTP admits to having safe haven in Afghanistan |work=The Express Tribune |date=26 June 2012 |access-date=27 June 2012 |author=Khan, Tahir |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628230558/http://tribune.com.pk/story/399205/ttp-admits-to-having-safe-haven-in-afghanistan/ |archive-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Both governments blame the other for harboring Taliban militants along the shared border.<ref name="dawn20120702">{{cite news |url=http://dawn.com/2012/07/02/afghanistan-says-would-notify-unsc-on-pakistan-attacks/ |title=Afghanistan, Pakistan clash over border violence |work=Dawn |date=2 July 2012 |agency=AFP |access-date=2 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702112949/http://dawn.com/2012/07/02/afghanistan-says-would-notify-unsc-on-pakistan-attacks/ |archive-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009 Pakistan launched offensives to force the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan from its territory in South Waziristan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6356367/Pakistan-offensive-troops-meet-heavy-Taliban-resistance.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |title=Pakistan offensive: troops meet heavy Taliban resistance |date=17 October 2009 |access-date=9 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020111752/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6356367/Pakistan-offensive-troops-meet-heavy-Taliban-resistance.html |archive-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some analysts say the fighting pushed TTP militants to the Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, where they have regrouped to threaten Pakistani border regions.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news |title=Militants from Afghanistan attack Pakistani posts |date=27 August 2011 |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-violence-idUSTRE77Q0OK20110827 |work=Reuters |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154906/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/27/us-pakistan-violence-idUSTRE77Q0OK20110827 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Pakistani military claims "scanty presence" of NATO and Afghan forces along the border has enabled militants to use these areas as safe havens and launch repeated attacks inside Pakistan.<ref name="reuters1" /> Afghan officials state that the withdrawal of US forces out of parts of Kunar province beginning in 2010 created a power vacuum that militants filled.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|title=What happened when US forces left Afghan hotspot?|date=12 March 2011|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15733325|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928183441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15733325|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> They point to the fact that the Afghan state in some areas has little control due to its war against the Afghan Taliban which are supported by Pakistan according to many international and Afghan institutions, analysts and officials.<ref name=waldman1 /><ref name="longwarjournal1">{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Joscelyn |date=22 September 2011 |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/09/admiral_mullen_pakis.php |title=Admiral Mullen: Pakistani ISI sponsoring Haqqani attacks |work=The Long War Journal |access-date=1 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202224635/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/09/admiral_mullen_pakis.php |archive-date=2 December 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pakistan vehemently denies this claim,<ref name=Pakdenies>{{cite news|last=Chris Allbritton|title=Pakistan strongly denied Thursday a BBC report that alleged the Pakistani military, along with its intelligence arm, supplied and protected the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-taliban-bbc-idUSTRE79Q7V420111027|access-date=27 October 2011|publisher=Reuters|date=27 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028091927/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-pakistan-taliban-bbc-idUSTRE79Q7V420111027|archive-date=28 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> although some Afghan Taliban commanders stated that their training was indeed overseen by "ISI officers in a camp in Pakistan" and that they were being armed by Pakistan to fight the Afghan state and international troops in Afghanistan.<ref name="ibtimes1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/238197/20111026/pakistan-taliban-al-qaeda-haqqani-terrorist-training-camps-isi-us.htm |title=Taliban Chiefs Admit Close Links to Pakistan Intelligence |work=International Business Times |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=1 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027231023/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/238197/20111026/pakistan-taliban-al-qaeda-haqqani-terrorist-training-camps-isi-us.htm |archive-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated6">{{cite news |last=Collyns |first=Sam |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15445047 |title=BBC News – Afghanistan: Pakistan accused of backing Taliban |work=BBC News |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=1 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117185019/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15445047 |archive-date=17 November 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Recently following the TTP's Peshawar school massacre Afghan Taliban leader's condemned the TTP's actions on the school, saying it was "Un-Islamic".<ref name="IBT" />

===Al-Qaeda===
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has close ties to Al Qaeda, sharing money and bomb experts and makers. John Brennan, President Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, said: "It's a group that is closely allied with al-Qaeda. They train together, they plan together, they plot together. They are almost indistinguishable."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/09/MN3F1DBTEN.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=N.Y. bomber has al Qaeda tie, White House says | first=Kathleen | last=Hennessey | date=10 August 2010 | access-date=1 January 2020 | archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/67GehuK1I?url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F05%2F09%2FMN3F1DBTEN.DTL | archive-date=28 April 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Ambassador-at-large Daniel Benjamin stated, "The T.T.P. and Al Qaeda have a symbiotic relationship: T.T.P. draws ideological guidance from Al Qaeda, while Al Qaeda relies on the T.T.P. for safe haven in the Pashtun areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border... This mutual cooperation gives T.T.P. access to both Al Qaeda's global terrorist network and the operational experience of its members. Given the proximity of the two groups and the nature of their relationship, T.T.P. is a force multiplier for Al Qaeda."<ref name='nyt20100901'/> Ayesha Siddiqa of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars describes the TTP as "a franchise of al Qaeda" and attributes strong ties to al-Qaeda's acquisition of "a more local character over the years."<ref name=siddiqa/> Since the days of the Soviet era, some al-Qaeda operatives have established themselves in Pashtun areas and enmeshed themselves in the local culture.<ref name=eliasb/>

In 2008 Baitullah Mehsud met with [[Biography:Ayman al-Zawahiri|Ayman al-Zawahiri]] in South Waziristan. Prior to this meeting the Pakistani Taliban answered to the Afghan Taliban and pro-Pakistan militant commanders. At the time Pakistani authorities believed that Mehsud was in fact an al-Qaeda operative.<ref name='nyt20100506'>{{cite news | first1 = Carlotta | last1 = Gall | first2 = Sabrina |last2=Tavernise|  title = Pakistani Taliban Are Said to Expand Alliances | date = 6 May 2010 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/world/asia/07pstan.html | work = The New York Times | access-date = 28 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111023211227/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/world/asia/07pstan.html | archive-date = 23 October 2011 | url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2009 Baitullah Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Maulavi Nazir released a statement in which they reaffirmed their allegiance to Osama bin Laden.<ref name=gall2009327/><ref name=khanhm/>

===Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant===
According to United Nation report, ISIS core leadership sends funds to TTP in Afghanistan to "outsource" attacks due to its depleted manpower. The report also claims that ISIS would cease to exist in Afghanistan without these funds.<ref name="nws">{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/down-its-luck-syria-and-iraq-isis-outsources-terror-attacks-pakistani-taliban-650926|title=ISIS 'OUTSOURCES' TERROR ATTACKS TO THE PAKISTANI TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN: U.N. REPORT|date=15 August 2017|work=News Week|author=Callum Paton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815184744/https://www.newsweek.com/down-its-luck-syria-and-iraq-isis-outsources-terror-attacks-pakistani-taliban-650926|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to Borhan Osman, a senior analyst at International Crisis Group (ICG), the Islamic State (IS) fighters who started the ISIS-K branch of ISIS were TTP militants who had long settled in Afghanistan. He claims that many members of the TTP fled Pakistan and went to seek refuge in Afghanistan as a result of military operations conducted by Pakistan security forces. In Afghanistan, National Directorate of Security (NDS) tried to persuade them to fight against Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Initially, only few of them fought against Pakistan and Afghan Talibans. However, after that TTP members in Afghanistan changed their allegiance to ISIS-K. Initially, because of their good relations with Afghan armed forces, the locals in Afghanistan thought that they were pro-Afghan government forces based. They also claimed that they were there to fight Afghan Talibans and Pakistan. However, after series of events, ISIS-K also turned hostile towards to Afghan government and locals.<ref name="AAN1"/>

===Ghazi Abdul Rashid Shaheed Brigade===
The Ghazi Abdul Rashid Shaheed Brigade, whose name is commonly shortened to Ghazi Brigade or Ghazi Force, emerged as a jihadi organization after the Lal Masjid Operation of 2007. In 2009 the Ghazi Brigade worked closely with the TTP during military operations in the Swat Valley, and the two groups jointly planned attacks on western targets in Islamabad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-vengeful+new+militant+group+emerges+in+pakistan-hs-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704070110/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-vengeful+new+militant+group+emerges+in+pakistan-hs-02|url-status=dead|title=Search Results vengeful new militant group emerges in Pakistan hs &#124; Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia &#124; DAWN.COM<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=4 July 2010|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title = Little-Known Ghazi Brigade Now a Major Player in the Punjabi Jihad? | journal = Terrorism Monitor | date = 10 July 2010 | first = Animesh | last = Roul | volume = VIII | issue = 28 | pages = 5–6 |url = http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/TM_008_63.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100816223508/http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/TM_008_63.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = 16 August 2010 | access-date = 10 February 2011 }}</ref>

===Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan===
The TTP and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) have a long history of collaboration. At one point prior to his appointment as TTP chief, Baitullah Mehsud lived with Tohir Yo'ldosh, the IMU's former leader, who became an ideological inspiration and offered the services of his 2,500 fighters to Mehsud.<ref name=AsiaTimes2009-08-07>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KH08Df04.html
| title=Baitullah: Dead or alive, his battle rages
| date=8 August 2009
| author=Syed Saleem Shahzad
| work=Asia Times
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810163143/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KH08Df04.html
| archive-date=10 August 2009
|url-status=unfit
| access-date=7 August 2009
}}</ref> In April 2009 Muslim Khan listed the IMU among the TTP's allies in an interview with AP.<ref name=dt20090422>{{cite news|title=TTP says Osama welcome in Swat: Taliban reject peace accord |location=Lahore |work=Daily Times|date=22 April 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\22\story_22-4-2009_pg1_1 |access-date=11 September 2009 |quote=Muslim Khan counted the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the Jaish-e-Muhammad, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban of Afghanistan among his allies. "If we need, we can call them and if they need, they can call us," he said. He said his forces would go to help the Taliban in Afghanistan if the United States and NATO continue to fight there. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425043059/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C04%5C22%5Cstory_22-4-2009_pg1_1 |archive-date=25 April 2009}}</ref> The IMU posted a video online in September 2010 that featured footage of Yo'ldosh's successor, Abu Usman Adil, meeting with Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-Ur-Rahman Mehsud.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/28/al_qaeda_loses_bridge_to_the_west | title = Al Qaeda loses bridge to the West | access-date = 9 February 2011 | last = Anzalone | first = Christopher | date = 28 January 2011 | work = Foreign Policy | publisher = The Slate Group | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110207024300/http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/28/al_qaeda_loses_bridge_to_the_west | archive-date = 7 February 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> On 8 June 2014, the TTP accepted responsibility for conducting the Jinnah International Airport attack. The militants who participated in the attack were Uzbeks belonging to the IMU, and the TTP described the attack as a joint operation between TTP and IMU.<ref name="Uzbeks"/>

===Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab===
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab ([[Social:Urdu|Urdu]]/[[Social:Punjabi language|Punjabi]]/{{lang-skr|{{nastaliq|تحریک طالبان پنجاب}}}}), alternatively called the Punjabi Taliban, was a network of members of banned militant groups based in South Punjab, the southernmost region of Pakistan's most populous Punjab province. The group was disbanded in September 2014 and is no longer active.<ref name="DPT"/><ref name="TPT"/> Major factions of the so-called Punjabi Taliban include operatives of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Jaish-e-Muhammad, who have previously supported the Kashmir insurgency against {{wipe|India}} in Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory administered by India that is claimed by Pakistan. TTP has significant recruits from Punjab-based sectarian organizations also called Punjabi Taliban.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://outlookafghanistan.net/topics?post_id=669|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723235021/http://outlookafghanistan.net/topics?post_id=669|url-status=dead|title=Militant Networks in North Waziristan &#124; The Daily Outlook Afghanistan<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=23 July 2011|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> The Punjabi Taliban have reportedly developed strong connections with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan [[Religion:Taliban|Taliban]], Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi and various other groups based in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite journal|title=Defining the Punjabi Taliban Network |journal=CTC Sentinel |date=April 2009 |first=Abbas |last=Hassan |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=1–4 |url=http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss4.pdf |access-date=25 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601185703/http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss4.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2010}}</ref><ref name=Majidyar>{{cite journal|title=Could the Taliban Take Over Pakistan's Punjab Province? |journal=Middle Eastern Outlook |date=June 2010 |first=Ahmad K. |last=Majidyar |url=http://www.aei.org/outlook/100967 |access-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209194551/http://www.aei.org/outlook/100967 |archive-date=9 February 2011}}</ref> It has increasingly provided the foot-soldiers for violent acts and has played an important role in attacking Qadiyani, Shia, Sufi and other civilian targets in the Punjab.<ref name="fair201101" /><ref name='economist20110311'/>

The term "Punjabi Taliban" is politically sensitive among Pakistanis,<ref name="fair201101"/> given that Punjabis are the largest ethnic group in the country and have historically been disassociated with the Taliban, an organization that has Afghan and Pashtun roots. Although the Punjabi Taliban are claimed and believed to be an established militant group, the Government of Punjab has denied and rejected their existence.<ref>{{cite news | first = Zia | last = Khan | title = Govt may tighten anti-terror laws | date = 5 July 2010 | publisher = The Express Tribune News Network | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/25761/govt-may-tighten-anti-terror-laws/ | work = The Express Tribune | access-date = 25 January 2011 | quote = However, the Punjab government is still denying the existence of "Punjabi militants" and has snubbed a demand for a crackdown on banned sectarian outfits that intelligence agencies say are now in collaboration with al Qaeda as well as the local Taliban. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101028140530/http://tribune.com.pk/story/25761/govt-may-tighten-anti-terror-laws/ | archive-date = 28 October 2010 | url-status = live}}</ref> Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab Chief Minister, has claimed that the term Punjabi Taliban is "an insult to the Punjabis" and accuses that it was coined by Rehman Malik purposely on ethnic grounds.<ref>{{cite news | first = Aamer Ahmed | last = Khan | title = Jaag Punjabi jaag | date = 3 July 2010 | publisher = The Express Tribune News Network | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/25461/jaag-punjabi-jaag/ | work = The Express Tribune | access-date = 25 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111110183048/http://tribune.com.pk/story/25461/jaag-punjabi-jaag/ | archive-date = 10 November 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> During a 17 March 2010 cabinet meeting Malik confirmed that Punjabi militants had joined Waziristan-based Taliban to stage attacks inside Punjab.<ref name=Majidyar/> Georgetown University's C. Christine Fair writes that "the movement is composed of Pashtuns and Punjabis, among other Pakistani and even foreign elements."<ref name="fair201101"/>

The Lahore police accused them of being responsible for the 3 March 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/2009617141825996745.html Pakistan cricket raid suspect held] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605222757/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/2009617141825996745.html |date=5 June 2011}}. ''Al Jazeera English''. 17 June 2009.</ref>

The group also claimed the 2009 Lahore bombing shortly after the attack, although the attack was also claimed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan,<ref>{{cite news | title = Pakistani Taliban claims Lahore attack | date = 29 May 2009|work=The Hindu|location=India | quote = An unknown group called Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab was also reported to have claimed the attack in a message posted on Turkish jihadist websites. SITE Intelligence, an American group tracking jihad websites, reported the claim late on Wednesday.}}</ref> and the May 2010 attacks on Qadiyani mosques in Lahore which were aimed at the Qadiyani minority sect.<ref name="nyt20100528">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/world/asia/29pstan.html|title=Attackers Hit Mosques of Islamic Sect in Pakistan|last=Perlez|first=Jane|date=28 May 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=28 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531055357/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/world/asia/29pstan.html|archive-date=31 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pamphlets found at the scene of the March 2011 assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti implicated the Punjabi Taliban.<ref name='economist20110311'>{{cite news|title=Things fall apart|date=3 March 2011|url=http://www.economist.com/node/18285912?story_id=18285912|newspaper=[[Finance:The Economist|The Economist]]|access-date=9 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312091435/http://www.economist.com/node/18285912?story_id=18285912|archive-date=12 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name='azeem'>{{cite news|title=Terrorists silence another voice of interfaith harmony|url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/610290/terrorists-silence-another-voice-of-interfaith-harmony|access-date=3 October 2013|newspaper=Dawn|date=2 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003223651/http://beta.dawn.com/news/610290/terrorists-silence-another-voice-of-interfaith-harmony|archive-date=3 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 24 August 2013, a spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed that the head of the Punjabi Taliban faction, Asmatullah Muawiya, had been stripped of his leadership for welcoming the Pakistani government's peace talks offer. Muawiya responded by saying that the Taliban central Shura (council) did not have the capacity to remove him because the Punjabi Taliban is a separate group. He added that his group has its own decision-making body to decide leadership and other matters.<ref>{{cite news|title=TTP 'expel' Punjabi Taliban leader for welcoming govt talks offer|url=http://dawn.com/news/1038053/ttp-expel-punjabi-taliban-leader-for-welcoming-govt-talks-offer|access-date=3 October 2013|newspaper=Dawn|date=24 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002031303/http://dawn.com/news/1038053/ttp-expel-punjabi-taliban-leader-for-welcoming-govt-talks-offer|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 September 2014, Muawiya announced that their faction was ending their armed struggle to implement sharia within Pakistan, however it would continue armed struggle in Afghanistan. He urged other warring groups to end violence in Pakistan.<ref name="DPT">{{cite web | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1131738 | title=Punjabi Taliban call off armed struggle in Pakistan | date=13 September 2014 | publisher=Dawn | access-date=15 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915004442/http://www.dawn.com/news/1131738 | archive-date=15 September 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TPT">{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11095213/Deadly-Taliban-group-gives-up-armed-struggle-in-Pakistan.html | title=Deadly Taliban group gives up armed struggle in Pakistan | work=The telegraph| date=14 September 2014 | access-date=15 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915015520/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11095213/Deadly-Taliban-group-gives-up-armed-struggle-in-Pakistan.html | archive-date=15 September 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other groups===
US officials admitted to ''The New York Times'' that they found it increasingly difficult to separate the operations of the various Pakistani militant groups active in the tribal areas of Pakistan.<ref name=mazzetti/> Individuals and groups that are believed to have a supportive relationship with the TTP include:

*Harkat-ul Jihad Islami (HuJI), an al-Qaeda-linked terror group<ref name=paksmostwanted>{{cite web
 | last = Roggio
 | first = Bill
 | title = Pakistan's most-wanted: look at who isn't listed
 | work = The Long War Journal
 | publisher = Public Multimedia Inc.
 | date = 31 August 2009
 | url = http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/2009/08/pakistans_most_wanted_look_at.php
 | access-date = 2 September 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181228130620/https://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/2009/08/pakistans_most_wanted_look_at.php
 | archive-date = 28 December 2018
 | url-status = live
}}</ref>
**Ilyas Kashmiri<ref>{{cite news|last=Mir |first=Amir |title=The top ten most wanted Jehadis |newspaper=The News International |publisher=Jang Multimedia |date=1 September 2009 |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=196050 |access-date=26 September 2009 |quote=He later shifted his base to the Waziristan region and joined hands with Baitullah Mehsud.}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> - ''killed''
**Qari Saifullah Akhtar<ref name=paksmostwanted/> - ''killed''
*Jaish-e-Mohammed<ref name="fair201101"/><ref name=dt20090422/>
*Lashkar-e-Jhangvi<ref name="fair201101"/><ref name="Economist-Punjabi">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14201152|title=Pakistan and the Taliban|work=The Economist|access-date=26 September 2009|quote=[Baitullah Mehsud] was also associated with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.|date=7 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812083724/http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14201152|archive-date=12 August 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Lashkar-e-Taiba<ref name=dt20090422/>
*Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan<ref name="fair201101"/>

== Allegations of foreign support/linkages==
{{pov section||date=September 2021}}
The Pakistani military and civilian leadership have repeatedly alleged that the Indian intelligence agency RAW has been funding and training TTP members using a network of Indian consulates in Afghanistan along the Pakistani border.<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-sponsoring-terrorism-in-pakistan-alleges-rehman-malik/article1-457263.aspx |title=India sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, alleges Rehman Malik |work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2015-02-19 |date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219162616/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-sponsoring-terrorism-in-pakistan-alleges-rehman-malik/article1-457263.aspx |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/india-helping-terrorists-in-pakistan-pak-defence-minister/ |title=India helping terrorists in Pakistan: Pak Defence Minister |work=The Indian Express|access-date=2015-02-21 |date=13 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118001318/http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/india-helping-terrorists-in-pakistan-pak-defence-minister/ |archive-date=18 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="stanford">{{cite news |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/105 |title=MAPPING MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan |publisher=Stanford.edu |access-date=2015-02-19 |date=13 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219161809/https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/105 |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The allegations claim that when the TTP emerged, Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies were quick to seize the opportunity to infiltrate and utilize some of its elements, particularly Baitullah Mehsud's kin, against the Pakistani government and its armed forces. Pakistan claims that NDS (Afghanistan's intelligence agency) officials have openly admitted to their involvement with Tehreek-e-Taliban.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite news |last=Akram |first=Munir |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1154894 |title=War in the shadows |publisher=Dawn |access-date=2015-02-19 |date=2015-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219160739/http://www.dawn.com/news/1154894 |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Afghanistan has always been safe 'sanctuary' for Tehreek-e-Taliban. Mullah Fazlullah and his followers have been living in Afghanistan since 2009. In 2012, United States military and intelligence officials admitted that Mullah Fazlullah and his followers are living in Kunar and Nuristan province of Afghanistan. However, the U.S. military claimed that they are not targeting Mullah Fazlullah because he is not their priority as he is not affiliated with Al-Qaeda or with the insurgents who target U.S. or Afghan interest. Moreover, the ISAF advisers believe that 'Afghan Army is allowing them to operate in Afghanistan'.<ref name="Washington Post1">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pakistani-militants-hiding-in-afghanistan/2012/11/06/609cca82-2782-11e2-b4f2-8320a9f00869_story.html|title=Pakistani militants hiding in Afghanistan|access-date=6 November 2012|author=Dana Priest|work=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107020937/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pakistani-militants-hiding-in-afghanistan/2012/11/06/609cca82-2782-11e2-b4f2-8320a9f00869_story.html|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Later on in 2017, Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah admitted that Tehreek-e-Taliban have a foothold in Afghanistan. However, he claimed that Afghan Government is not supporting them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1371039|title=TTP has foothold in Afghanistan, says Abdullah|access-date=17 November 2017|publisher=Dawn News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117085738/https://www.dawn.com/news/1371039|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Afghan intelligence agency, NDS is known for supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban. In private, NDS officials have acknowledged that 'they have staged attacks against Pakistan'.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-new-language-of-killing/article5963505.ece|title=India's new language of killing|access-date=1 May 2014|work=The Hindu|author=Praween Swami|quote=Faced with not-dissimilar problems, Afghanistan’s NDS has made its choice. Last year, U.S. forces captured senior Pakistani Taliban commander Latif Mehsud from the custody of Afghanistan’s intelligence services – lending weight to claims that the NDS has been backing the jihadist group.... In private, NDS officials admit they have staged bomb-for-bomb actions against attacks they attribute to the ISI, including one in March on Kabul’s prestigious Serena Hotel.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183259/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-new-language-of-killing/article5963505.ece|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Head of National Directorate of security (NDS), Asadullah Khalid posted a tweet on Twitter where he claimed that Tehreek-e-Taliban attack on Pakistan air force Badaber Camp was Tit for Tat. His claim highlights NDS support to Tehreek-e-Taliban.<ref name="Daily Pakistan">{{cite news|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/former-afghan-intelligence-head-says-badaber-attack-is-a-tit-for-tat/|title=Former Afghan intelligence head says Badaber attack is a 'tit for tat', terms TTP militants as 'martyrs'|access-date=19 September 2015|publisher=Daily Pakistan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920212405/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/former-afghan-intelligence-head-says-badaber-attack-is-a-tit-for-tat/|archive-date=20 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, United States military captured senior Tehreek-e-Taliban leader, Latif Mehsud, from an Afghan army and intelligence convoy. The Afghan convoy was guarding Latif Mehsud and taking him to National Directorate of Security (NDS) headquarters. They were intercepted by U.S. military in Logar Province of Afghanistan.<ref name="New York Times1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/world/asia/us-disrupts-afghans-tack-on-militants.html|title=U.S. Disrupts Afghans' Tack on Militants|access-date=28 October 2013|work={{wipe|The New York Times}}|author=Matthew Rosenberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029071647/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/world/asia/us-disrupts-afghans-tack-on-militants.html|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/afghan-officials-accuse-us-of-snatching-pakistani-taliban-leader-from-their-custody/2013/10/10/df93bdf6-31e9-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html?noredirect=on|title=Afghan officials accuse U.S. of snatching Pakistani Taliban leader from their custody|access-date=10 October 2013|work=The Washington Times|author=Ernesto Londoño and Kevin Sieff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183305/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/afghan-officials-accuse-us-of-snatching-pakistani-taliban-leader-from-their-custody/2013/10/10/df93bdf6-31e9-11e3-89ae-16e186e117d8_story.html|archive-date=25 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Capture of Latif Mehsud from Afghan custody proves that NDS is supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

Senior Afghan analyst Borhan Osman claims that the Pakistan military offensive against the Tehrik-i-Taliban in Federally Administered Tribal Areas forced many members of the TTP to flee Pakistan and seek shelter in Afghanistan. Tehrik-i-Talibans were welcomed in Afghanistan and were treated as 'guests' by the Afghan Government and by the local people. Apart from Tehrik-i-Talibans, many other militants groups like Lashkar-e-Islam and other factions of Tehrik-i-Talibans were allowed to live in Afghanistan. Tribal elders and locals from Achin, Nazin and Kot testify that the militants were allowed free movement in the province and treatment in Government run hospitals. When moving outside their hub, they would go unarmed. National Directorate of Security (NDS) wanted them to fight against the Pakistani government and the Afghan Talibans. Initially, only few of them fought against Pakistan and Afghan Talibans. However, that changed after TTP members in Afghanistan changed their allegiance to ISIS-K. Once they pledged allegiance to ISIS-K, they claimed that they were there to fight Afghan Taliban and Pakistan. Because of their Anti-Afghan Taliban and Anti-Pakistan attitude, many locals believed that ISIS-K were a pro-government forces.<ref name="AAN1">{{cite web|url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-islamic-state-in-khorasan-how-it-began-and-where-it-stands-now-in-nangarhar/|title=The Islamic State in 'Khorasan': How it began and where it stands now in Nangarhar|access-date=27 July 2016|publisher=Afghan Analyst Network|author=Borhan Osman|date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728142724/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/the-islamic-state-in-khorasan-how-it-began-and-where-it-stands-now-in-nangarhar/|archive-date=28 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2014, after the Peshawar school massacre in which 132 children were killed, the Pakistani authorities again alleged that there was significant proof of Indian support of TTP to destabilize Pakistan and to counter Pakistan's Afghan policy.<ref name="dunyanews1">{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/261083-India-funds-TTP-in-FATA-Balochistan-DG-ISPR|title=India funds TTP in FATA, Balochistan: DG ISPR|publisher=Dunya Tv |access-date=2015-02-19 |date=2015-02-12}}</ref> The Pakistan Army's official spokesman, Major General Asim Bajwa, said in the aftermath of the attack that, "India is funding Taliban in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan," adding that "...a banned outfit cannot function on such a big scale unless foreign powers are funding it."<ref name="dunyanews1"/> In addition to the Indian RAW intelligence agency, the Pakistanis claim that Afghan intelligence agencies are also involved in the support of TTP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/430027/foreign-intelligence-services-bankrolling-terror-report/|title=Foreign intelligence services bankrolling terror: Report|publisher=The Express Tribune|access-date=2015-02-19|date=2012-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219162115/http://tribune.com.pk/story/430027/foreign-intelligence-services-bankrolling-terror-report/|archive-date=19 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Notably, major TTP leader Latif Mehsud was caught by U.S. troops in Afghanistan while he was in a convoy escorted by Afghan Intelligence. American forces captured the TTP leader and handed him over to Pakistani authorities, much to the anger of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Pakistanis claim this as a major proof of Afghan Intelligence agencies' support for TTP.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kay |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-afghanistan-militants-idUSKBN0JL0G220141207 |title=U.S. hands Pakistan senior militant detained in Afghanistan |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2015-02-19 |date=2014-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033452/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/07/us-pakistan-afghanistan-militants-idUSKBN0JL0G220141207 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Latif Mehsud gave a public video confession during which he claimed that Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies were responsible for supporting the TTP and other militant groups against Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/123951-VIDEO-Key-TTP-terrorist-confessed-Indian-Afghan-backing/ |title=VIDEO: Key TTP terrorist confessed to Indian, Afghan backing |publisher=Geo News |access-date=2017-11-24 |date=2016-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042707/https://www.geo.tv/latest/123951-VIDEO-Key-TTP-terrorist-confessed-Indian-Afghan-backing/ |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Sindh Home Ministry in November 2015, wrote a letter to the Rangers and Police claiming Taliban had funded terrorist activities in Karachi. According to the letter, RAW funded around Rs 20&nbsp;million for terrorist activities in Karachi. "The funding has been provided to banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat," the letter claimed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/11/26/raw-funded-rs-20-million-for-attacks-in-karachi-sindh-home-ministry/|title=RAW funded Rs 20 million for attacks in Karachi:&nbsp; Sindh Home Ministry &#124; Pakistan Today|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723044448/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/11/26/raw-funded-rs-20-million-for-attacks-in-karachi-sindh-home-ministry/|archive-date=23 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Claimed and alleged attacks==

*The Pakistani government implicated the network in the December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto although the group denies the charge. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency also confirmed its belief of TTP's involvement in January 2008.
*The Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariate-Mohammadi (TNSM) claimed responsibility for a 23 December 2007 suicide bombing targeting a military convoy on behalf of the TTP. The blast in the Mingora area of the Swat Valley killed five soldiers and six civilians.<ref name=abbash/>
* TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar claimed responsibility of 2008 Dera Ismail Khan suicide bombing.
*TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar claimed that the group was responsible for 21 August 2008 suicide bomb attack on a military complex.
*TTP claimed responsibility for the 23 August 2008 Swat Valley bombing.
*Someone using the name Abdur Rehman claimed that the TTP was behind a 6 November 2008 suicide bombing that targeted tribal elders, who had gathered in the Bajaur tribal area to discuss efforts to coordinate with the government against the Pakistani Taliban. The blast took the lives of 16 and injured 31.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bomber hits anti-militant tribal jirga; 16 dead |last=Khan |first=Anwarullah |url=http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/07/top1.htm |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=8 November 2008 |publisher=Dawn Media Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110092255/http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/07/top1.htm |archive-date=10 November 2008}}</ref>
*On 13 November 2008, the TTP intercepted a military convoy along the Khyber Pass bound for NATO troops in Afghanistan.
*In telephone interviews with news media Mehsud claimed responsibility for the 30 March 2009 attack on the police training academy in Lahore.<ref name=bbc2009331>{{cite news
 | title = Lahore 'was Pakistan Taleban op'
 | work = BBC News
 | date = 31 March 2009
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7973540.stm
 | access-date = 31 March 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090401012007/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7973540.stm
 | archive-date = 1 April 2009
 | url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | last = Ali
 | first = Mohammad Faisal
 | title = Baitullah claims responsibility for Manawan attack
 | publisher = Dawn Media Group
 | date = 31 March 2009
 | url = http://www.dawn.com/news/453868/baitullah-claims-responsibility-for-manawan-attack
 | access-date = 31 March 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140915234338/http://www.dawn.com/news/453868/baitullah-claims-responsibility-for-manawan-attack
 | archive-date = 15 September 2014
 | url-status = live
}}</ref> He told the BBC that the attack was in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American [[Engineering:Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]] for which the Pakistani government shared responsibility. In the same interview Mehsud claimed two other attacks: a 25 March attack on an [[Place:Islamabad|Islamabad]] police station and a 30 March suicide attack on a military convoy near Bannu.<ref name=bbc2009331/>
*Mehsud claimed responsibility for the Binghamton shooting, saying they were in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American [[Engineering:Unmanned aerial vehicle|drones]]. The FBI denied this claim and stated this had nothing to do with Mehsud.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-38880020090404|title=Pakistani Taliban chief Mehsud claims U.S. shooting
|publisher=Thomson Reuters |date=4 April 2009|access-date=4 April 2009}}</ref>
*Azam Tariq, spokesman of the TTP, claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a security checkpoint along the Pakistan-Afghan border near Torkham on 27 August 2009. Tariq said by telephone that the attack was the first in retaliation for the death of Baitullah Mehsud. Although the exact number of casualties was unknown, a doctor at a nearby hospital told Dawn News that they had received 22 bodies and local people working at the blast site said they had retrieved 13 bodies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shinwari |first=Ibrahim |title=Taliban claim responsibility for Khyber suicide attack |publisher=Dawn News |date=28 August 2009 |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/pre-iftar+suicide+blast+kills+22+border+guards |access-date=28 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830133459/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/pre-iftar+suicide+blast+kills+22+border+guards |archive-date=30 August 2009}}</ref>
*Azam Tariq claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that killed five at the UN's [[Organization:World Food Programme|World Food Programme]] [[Place:Islamabad|Islamabad]] offices on 5 October 2009.<ref name=ahmad20091006>{{cite news|last=Ahmad |first=Munir |author2=Ravi Nessman |author3=Ishtiaq Mahsud |author4=Hussain Afzal |title=Taliban claim responsibility for deadly UN blast |newspaper=Yahoo! News |agency=Associated Press |date=6 October 2009 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091006/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008022442/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091006/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan |archive-date=8 October 2009}}</ref>
*The TTP, through Azam Tariq, claimed responsibility for the October 2009 attack on the army's headquarters at [[Place:Rawalpindi|Rawalpindi]]. Tariq told the Associated Press that the attack was carried out by its "Punjabi faction" although the military insisted the attack originated in South Waziristan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Khan |first=Riaz |author2=Ishtiaq Mahsud |author3=Babar Dogar |title=Pakistan says 41 killed in market bombing |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=12 October 2009 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091012/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan |access-date=12 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015061727/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091012/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan |archive-date=15 October 2009}}</ref>
*The militant group claimed responsibility for three separate coordinated attacks in Lahore. 10 militants targeted buildings used by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Manawan Police Training School and the Elite Police Academy.<ref>{{cite news
 | last = Hussain
 | first = Zahid
 | author2 = Rehmat Mehsud
 | title = Wave of Deadly Attacks in Pakistan
 | newspaper = Wall Street Journal
 | publisher = Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
 | date = 15 October 2009
 | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125557894653686797?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews
 | access-date = 15 October 2009
 | quote = Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the Lahore attacks, according to a private TV news channel, GEO News.
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180821110656/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125557894653686797?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews
 | archive-date = 21 August 2018
 | url-status = live
}}</ref>
*The Pakistani Taliban, as well as the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the 30 December 2009 attack on Camp Chapman, a base of operations for the CIA, inside Khost Province, Afghanistan. The TTP released a video of Hakimullah Mehsud sitting next to the suicide bomber, Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, a Jordanian national who had been working with the CIA. In the video, al-Balawi states that the attack is in retaliation for the killing of Baitullah Mehsud. Many analysts doubted that the TTP acted alone.<ref name='ap20100101'>{{cite news | title = Pakistan Taliban say they carried out CIA attack | date = 1 January 2010 | agency = Associated Press | url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34654487 | work = NBC News | access-date =1 March 2011}}</ref><ref name='reuters20100111'>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Georgy | title = ANALYSIS – CIA bomber video publicity coup for Pakistan Taliban | date = 11 January 2010 | publisher = Thomson Reuters | url = http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-45310520100111?pageNumber=1 | work = Reuters | access-date = 1 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121004192924/http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/01/11/idINIndia-45310520100111?pageNumber=1 | archive-date = 4 October 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*In a video posting on YouTube, Qari Hussain claimed that the TTP was behind the May 2010 attempted car bomb in New York City's Times Square.<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Taliban Video Claims Responsibility for The Times Square Attack May 2, 2010
 | date = 2 May 2010
 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKIwNQvDsM
 | access-date = 6 May 2009
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151226034600/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKIwNQvDsM
 | archive-date = 26 December 2015
 | url-status = live
}}</ref>
*An attack on two minority mosques in Lahore during May 2010 was claimed by the Taliban.
*In July 2010, the TTP claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in the Mohmand Agency. Two blasts occurred outside a senior government official's office as people gathered to receive relief supplies. As many as 56 people died and at least 100 suffered injuries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fifty-six killed, over 100 injured in Mohmand attack |newspaper=Dawn |date=9 July 2010 |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-mohmand-blast-qs-02 |access-date=9 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711065502/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-mohmand-blast-qs-02 |archive-date=11 July 2010}}</ref>
*On 4 October 2010 the TTP claimed responsibility for an attack near Islamabad on fuel tankers bound for NATO troops in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news | title = Taliban claim Nato tanker attack | date = 4 October 2010 | url = http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/10/201010413141352242.html | work = Al Jazeera | access-date = 7 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110204113156/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/10/201010413141352242.html | archive-date = 4 February 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*In December 2010, the TTP claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing upon administrative buildings in the Mohmand district's Ghalalnai village. The blast killed 40–50 people. The purported head of the TTP in Mohmand, Omar Khalid, claimed responsibility in a telephone call with the AFP.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suicide bombers kill 40 in Mohmand Agency |newspaper=Dawn.com |date=5 December 2010 |url=http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/06/eight-killed-in-mohmand-explosion.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904041544/http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/06/eight-killed-in-mohmand-explosion.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 September 2012 |access-date=6 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Taliban claims Pakistan blasts; 50 dead |newspaper=UPI.com |date=6 December 2010 |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/12/06/Two-blasts-kill-at-least-40-in-Pakistan/UPI-47441291637841/ |access-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229084945/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/12/06/Two-blasts-kill-at-least-40-in-Pakistan/UPI-47441291637841/ |archive-date=29 December 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The military's chief spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas indicated to Al Jazeera that the TTP attackers were based in neighboring Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news | title = Dozens killed in Pakistan blasts | date = 7 December 2010 | url = http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/12/2010126102747454135.html | work = Al Jazeera | access-date = 7 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101209083127/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/12/2010126102747454135.html | archive-date = 9 December 2010 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*In December 2010, the TTP in South Waziristan kidnapped 23 tribesmen who had recently attended meetings with the Pakistani military.<ref>{{cite news | title = Taliban kidnap 23 tribesmen near South Waziristan | date = 27 December 2010 | publisher = Dawn Media Group | url = http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/27/taliban-kidnap-23-tribesmen-near-south-waziristan.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 8 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110201085753/http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/27/taliban-kidnap-23-tribesmen-near-south-waziristan.html | archive-date = 1 February 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for a 15 January 2011 attack on NATO fuel tankers likely bound for the border crossing town of Chaman. Azam Tariq told the AP, "We have assigned our fighters to go after NATO supply tankers wherever in Pakistan."<ref>{{cite news | title = NATO lorries torched in Pakistan | date = 15 January 2011 | url = http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/01/201111517248680630.html | work = Al Jazeera | access-date = 7 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110131082340/http://english.aljazeera.net//news/asia/2011/01/201111517248680630.html | archive-date = 31 January 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*On 31 January 2011 Azam Tariq, on behalf of the TTP, claimed responsibility of a suicide bombing in Peshawar that targeted police. The blast killed 5 people (3 police and 2 civilians) and injured 11.<ref>{{cite news | title = Senior police official among six killed in Peshawar blasts | date = 31 January 2011 | publisher = Dawn Media Group | url = http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/31/blast-in-peshawar.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 31 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110131171249/http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/31/blast-in-peshawar.html | archive-date = 31 January 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*On 10 February 2011 the TTP claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at an army compound in Mardan that killed at least 31 people. Azam Tariq told the AFP that the attack was in response to repeated U.S. drone attacks and military incursions in the tribal areas. He also threatened further attacks against "those who protect the Americans".<ref>{{cite news | title = Pakistan attack: 'Schoolboy' suicide bomber hits Mardan | date = 10 February 2011 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12413469 | work = BBC News | access-date = 10 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110210083504/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12413469 | archive-date = 10 February 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Haq Nawaz | last = Khan | author2 = Karin Brulliard | title = Teen suicide bomber kills army recruits in Pakistan | date = 11 February 2011 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021000674.html | work = The Washington Post | access-date = 10 February 2011 | quote = Officials maintain that the 17-year-old bomber was the only person involved in the attack. But Umar Hassan Ihravi, a spokesman for the area's Pakistani Taliban chapter, claiming responsibility for the attack, told reporters in the area that the bombing was carried out by two militants. One, he said, served as a lookout and escaped after the attack. Ihravi did not say how old the bomber was. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202845/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021000674.html | archive-date = 28 June 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*The TTP released a video of the execution of a former ISI officer known as Colonel Imam. The TTP said they had carried out the murder on 17 February 2011. His body was found near Mir Ali, North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Body of Col Imam found near Mir Ali |date=21 February 2011 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\02\21\story_21-2-2011_pg7_14 |work=Daily Times |access-date=4 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227070035/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C02%5C21%5Cstory_21-2-2011_pg7_14 |archive-date=27 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Rahimullah |last=Yusufzai |title=The long wait for Col Imam's body |date=23 February 2011 |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=4183&Cat=13&dt=23%20February%202011 |work=The News International |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104222736/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=4183&Cat=13&dt=23%20February%202011 |archive-date=4 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Former ISI Colonel Imam's body found | date = 20 February 2011 | publisher = Dawn Media | url = http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/20/former-isi-colonel-imam-body-found.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 4 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110225021850/http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/20/former-isi-colonel-imam-body-found.html | archive-date = 25 February 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*On 8 March 2011 a car bomb explosion at a gas station in Faisalabad killed at least 32 and injured 125. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility and stated that the intended target was a nearby ISI office. He said that the attack was in retaliation for the death of a Taliban commander the previous year.<ref name=dawn20110308>{{cite news | title = At least 32 killed in Faisalabad blast; Taliban claim responsibility | date = 8 March 2011 | publisher = Dawn Media Group | url = http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/08/explosion-heard-in-faisalabad-reports.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 8 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110311075210/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/08/explosion-heard-in-faisalabad-reports.html | archive-date = 11 March 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=reuters20110308>{{cite news | first = Khursheed | last = Mian | title = Bomb kills 25 at Pakistan gas station, many hurt | date = 8 March 2011 | publisher = Thomson Reuters | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-violence-idUSTRE72714220110308 | work = Reuters | access-date = 8 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110311015109/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-pakistan-violence-idUSTRE72714220110308 | archive-date = 11 March 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*On 9 March 2011 a suicide bomber attacked a funeral procession in Peshawar. The procession consisted of many anti-Taliban militiamen. Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said the Pakistani Taliban had carried out the attack because the militiamen had allied themselves with the Pakistani government and, by extension, the United States.<ref>{{cite news | title = Deadly attack at Pakistan funeral procession | date = 9 March 2011 | publisher = BBC | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12684954 | work = BBC News | access-date = 9 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110309102701/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12684954 | archive-date = 9 March 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Blast kills 36 in Peshawar; Taliban claim responsibility | date = 9 March 2011 | publisher = Dawn Media Group | url = http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/blast-reported-in-peshawar.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 9 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110310163301/http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/blast-reported-in-peshawar.html | archive-date = 10 March 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*On 4 April 2011 two suicide bombers attacked a Sufi shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. The bombings occurred while thousands of devotees were gathered for the annual [[Religion:Urs|Urs]] celebrations at the shrine. The attack left more than 50 people dead, as well as 120 wounded.<ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/142210/militants-attack-shrine-in-dg-khan-3-dead/|title=DG Khan shrine bombing: Death toll reaches 50|work=The Express Tribune|date=3 April 2011|access-date=5 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405121617/http://tribune.com.pk/story/142210/militants-attack-shrine-in-dg-khan-3-dead/|archive-date=5 April 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The Pakistani Taliban are ideologically opposed to [[Religion:Sufism|Sufism]] and claimed responsibility soon after the attacks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8424930/41-killed-in-Pakistan-shrine-suicide-attack.html|title=41 killed in Pakistan shrine suicide attack|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=3 April 2011|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308030809/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8424930/41-killed-in-Pakistan-shrine-suicide-attack.html|archive-date=8 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for two remotely detonated explosions that targeted two Pakistani Navy buses in Karachi on 26 April 2011.<ref name=ap20110428>{{cite news|title=Bomb hits Pakistan navy bus in Karachi; 5 dead |date=28 April 2011 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpHEdPNWU78d3sNXQ_h-pox3xx4w?do |work=Google News |access-date=28 April 2011}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for a 28 April 2011 attack upon a Pakistani Navy bus in Karachi that killed 5.<ref name=ap20110428/>
*On 13 May 2011 the TTP claimed responsibility for a dual suicide bomb attacks on a Frontier Constabulary (FC) headquarters in Shabqadar, a town about 30 kilometers north of Peshawar, in Charsadda District. The attack killed more than 80 and injured at least 115 people. Most of the casualties were FC cadets. TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed that the attack was retribution for the killing of Osama bin Laden.<ref>{{cite news | title = Twin blasts kill more than 80 in Charsadda | date = 13 May 2011 | publisher = Dawn Media Group | url = http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/13/twin-blasts-kill-at-least-three-in-charsadda-dawnnews.html | work = Dawn.com | access-date = 13 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516152240/http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/13/twin-blasts-kill-at-least-three-in-charsadda-dawnnews.html | archive-date = 16 May 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for a 22 May 2011 attack on a naval station in Karachi.<ref>{{cite news | title = Pakistan: Troops end attack on Karachi naval air base | date = 23 May 2011 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127 | work = BBC News | access-date = 25 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525065133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127 | archive-date = 25 May 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden pickup truck into a Peshawar police building on 25 May 2011. The blast killed six and wounded 30. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suicide bomber kills 6 at Pakistan police building |date=25 May 2011 |agency=AP |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hiq2yiR9QpCxQIK5SBvvbYu8bgVg?do |access-date=25 May 2011}} {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*On 13 September 2011, five militants with assault rifles and rockets attacked a school bus, killing the driver, four boys aged 10 to 15, and wounding two seven-year-old girls. TTP claimed responsibility.<ref>{{cite news
 |title=Bus attack kills four boys in Pakistan
 |last=Ali
 |first=Lehaz
 |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/bus-attack-kills-four-boys-in-pakistan-20110914-1k84a.html
 |date=14 September 2011
 |access-date=13 September 2011
 |agency=Agence France-Presse
 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925085519/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/bus-attack-kills-four-boys-in-pakistan-20110914-1k84a.html
 |archive-date=25 September 2012
 |url-status=live
}}</ref>
*On 1 December 2011 the TTP claimed responsibility for the death of Hashim Zaman, an anti-TTP tribal leader, who was killed in Hangu.<ref name='newsInt20111202'>{{cite news | title = TTP claims killing of peace body chief | date = 2 December 2011 | url = http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=80477&Cat=7&dt=12/2/2011 | work = The News International | access-date = 2 December 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111202045342/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=80477&Cat=7&dt=12%2F2%2F2011 | archive-date = 2 December 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name='lwj20111202'>{{cite news | first = Matt | last = Dupee | title = Anti-Taliban tribal leader killed in northwest Pakistan | date = 2 December 2011 | publisher = Public Multimedia Inc. | url = http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/12/anti-taliban_tribal.php | work = The Long War Journal | access-date = 2 December 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111207233659/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/12/anti-taliban_tribal.php | archive-date = 7 December 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>
*TTP militants abducted 15 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers on 23 December 2011 from a fort in Mullazai. TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan announced on 5 January 2012 that the militant group had executed the 15 paramilitary soldiers.<ref name='et20120115'>{{cite news | first = Iftikhar | last = Firdous | title = TTP claims killing of 15 abducted FC troops | date = 5 January 2012 | url = http://tribune.com.pk/story/316954/ttp-claims-killing-of-15-abducted-fc-troops/ | work = The Express Tribune | access-date = 5 January 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120108055235/http://tribune.com.pk/story/316954/ttp-claims-killing-of-15-abducted-fc-troops/ | archive-date = 8 January 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name='bbc20120105'>{{cite news | title = Pakistan Taliban kill 15 kidnapped tribal police | date = 5 January 2012 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16421857 | work = BBC News | access-date = 5 January 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120105115634/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16421857 | archive-date = 5 January 2012 | url-status = live}}</ref> The bodies were recovered close to a ravine and were mutilated according to locals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/316954/ttp-claims-killing-of-15-abducted-fc-troops/|title='Operation revenge': 15 abducted FC soldiers brutally tortured, slain – The Express Tribune|work=International Herald Tribune|access-date=22 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127041123/http://tribune.com.pk/story/316954/ttp-claims-killing-of-15-abducted-fc-troops/|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 January 2012 the TTP released a video showing the execution of the 15 soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/taliban-video-shows-execution-of-pak-soldiers-169483|title=Taliban video shows execution of Pak soldiers|work=NDTV|access-date=22 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122210215/http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/taliban-video-shows-execution-of-pak-soldiers-169483|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-military-video-idUSTRE80K0NT20120121|title=Taliban video highlights revenge on Pakistan military&#124; Reuters|work=Reuters|access-date=22 January 2012|date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122214523/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/21/us-pakistan-military-video-idUSTRE80K0NT20120121|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for a Jandola faction of the TTP, claimed to Reuters that Mohammed Merah, a Frenchman of Algerian descent suspected of killing seven people in Toulouse, {{wipe|France}}, had received TTP training in North Waziristan. However, Marwat denied the TTP's involvement in the shootings, and the head of French intelligence indicated they had no evidence that Merah belonged to any militant Islamist group.<ref name="reuters20120325">{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pakistan-militants-france-idUKBRE82O05120120325 | title=Taliban faction claims French gunman trained in Pakistan | work=Reuters | date=25 March 2012 | agency=Thompson Reuters | access-date=26 March 2012 | author=Mehsud, Saud | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501112804/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/25/uk-pakistan-militants-france-idUKBRE82O05120120325 | archive-date=1 May 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> Pakistani officials allege that the TTP trained 85 French nationals between 2009 and 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistani Taliban training Frenchmen: Officials |date=25 March 2012 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistani-Taliban-training-Frenchmen-Officials/articleshow/12403827.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=25 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325164108/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistani-Taliban-training-Frenchmen-Officials/articleshow/12403827.cms |archive-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
*The TTP Khyber Agency faction claimed responsibility for a 23 March 2012 bombing that targeted a mosque, run by Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI), in Kolay village of Tirah Valley. The blast killed more than a dozen people and injured at least six others. A TTP spokesman told reporters that the attacks against the LeI would continue.<ref name="et20120324">{{cite news | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/354349/taliban-bomber-kills-13-extremists-in-khyber-region/ | title=Taliban bomber kills 13 'extremists' in Khyber region | work=The Express Tribune | date=24 March 2012 | access-date=26 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326132926/http://tribune.com.pk/story/354349/taliban-bomber-kills-13-extremists-in-khyber-region/ | archive-date=26 March 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for a 5 April 2012 suicide bombing targeting a police vehicle in Karachi. The blast killed two and injured nine.<ref name="extribune20120405">{{cite news | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/360034/two-dead-four-injured-in-karachi-blast/ | title=Police targeted: Taliban claim responsibility for Karachi suicide attack | work=The Express Tribune | date=5 April 2012 | agency=AFP | access-date=5 April 2012 | author=Mirza, Shaheryar | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406194312/http://tribune.com.pk/story/360034/two-dead-four-injured-in-karachi-blast/ | archive-date=6 April 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ap20120405">{{cite news | url=https://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2012/04/05/suspected_suicide_bomber_kills_2_in_pakistan/ | title=Pakistan: Suicide bomber targeting police kills 2 | work=The Boston Globe | date=5 April 2012 | agency=AP | access-date=5 April 2012 | author=Shahzad, Asif | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204150020/http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2012/04/05/suspected_suicide_bomber_kills_2_in_pakistan/ | archive-date=4 February 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*On 15 April 2012 the TTP claimed responsibility for a prison break in Bannu. 384 convicts escaped although many were later recaptured.<ref name="extrib20120416">{{cite news | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/365541/bannu-jailbreak-ttp-had-inside-information-says-commander/ | title=Bannu jailbreak: TTP had inside information, says commander | work=The Express Tribune | date=16 April 2012 | agency=Reuters | access-date=16 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418135750/http://tribune.com.pk/story/365541/bannu-jailbreak-ttp-had-inside-information-says-commander/ | archive-date=18 April 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dawn20120416">{{cite news | url=http://dawn.com/2012/04/16/preliminary-report-blames-bannu-jailbreak-on-agencies/ | title=Security agencies blamed for Bannu jailbreak | work=dawn.com | date=16 April 2012 | access-date=16 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416213654/http://dawn.com/2012/04/16/preliminary-report-blames-bannu-jailbreak-on-agencies/ | archive-date=16 April 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*A suicide bomb on 4 May 2012 killed 24 and wounded at least 45 in a Bajaur market . The TTP claimed responsibility.<ref name="dawn20120504">{{cite news | url=http://dawn.com/2012/05/04/bajaur-bomb-attack-kills-seven/ | title=Bajaur bomb attack kills 24; TTP claims responsibility | work=Dawn.com | date=4 May 2012 | access-date=4 May 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504223615/http://dawn.com/2012/05/04/bajaur-bomb-attack-kills-seven/ | archive-date=4 May 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*The Malakand branch of the TTP claimed responsibility for 24 June 2012 attacks on Pakistani security checkpoints near the Afghan border. 13 Pakistani troops were reportedly killed while 14 militants died. The Pakistani military alleged that the militants had crossed over from Afghanistan, but the TTP did not confirm in claiming responsibility. The TTP also denied that it had taken casualties.<ref name="wapo20120625">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-says-militants-cross-over-from-afghanistan-kill-6-troops/2012/06/25/gJQAfIRF1V_story.html | title=Pakistan says militants cross over from Afghanistan, kill 13 troops including 7 beheaded | work=The Washington Post | date=25 June 2012 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=25 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="et20120625">{{cite news | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/398836/cross-border-attack-six-security-men-killed-in-upper-dir-ambush/ | title=Cross-border attack: Six security men killed in Upper Dir ambush | work=The Express Tribune | date=25 June 2012 | access-date=25 June 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627231550/http://tribune.com.pk/story/398836/cross-border-attack-six-security-men-killed-in-upper-dir-ambush/ | archive-date=27 June 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*On 25 June 2012 the TTP claimed responsibility for gunfire on Aaj News TV, a local station in Karachi. Two were injured. Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the TTP was upset that it was not receiving coverage equal to that of the Pakistani military and government.<ref name="afp20120626">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hwlsR4rmwXZZP-C3GX36_jO4KuNQ?do |title=Gunmen open fire on Pakistan television station |work=Google News |agency=AFP |access-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224171737/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hwlsR4rmwXZZP-C3GX36_jO4KuNQ?docId=CNG.8d52d8a6dba835c4ac54aab3f3c8031b.651 |archive-date=24 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="dawn20120625">{{cite news | url=http://dawn.com/2012/06/26/taliban-attack-television-office-in-karachi-two-injured/ | title=Taliban attack television office in Karachi; two injured | work=dawn.com | date=25 June 2012 | agency=Reuters | access-date=28 June 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628014522/http://dawn.com/2012/06/26/taliban-attack-television-office-in-karachi-two-injured/ | archive-date=28 June 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*On 9 July 2012 militants linked to the TTP attacked an army camp near Gujrat city that killed seven soldiers and a policeman. A pamphlet found at the scene indicated that attacks against government installations would continue as long as Pakistan allowed NATO to use its territory to transport supplies into Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Pakistan/Pak-Militants-threaten-to-attack-govt-installations/Article1-886809.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711112427/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Pakistan/Pak-Militants-threaten-to-attack-govt-installations/Article1-886809.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 July 2012 | title= Pak: Militants threaten to attack govt installations| date=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="et20120711">{{cite news | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/406573/army-camp-attack-pamphlet-vows-more-attacks-if-nato-supplies-continue/ | title=Army camp attack: Pamphlet vows more attacks if NATO supplies continue | work=The Express Tribune | date=11 July 2012 | access-date=11 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712132344/http://tribune.com.pk/story/406573/army-camp-attack-pamphlet-vows-more-attacks-if-nato-supplies-continue/ | archive-date=12 July 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for a 16 August 2012 attack on the Minhas Airbase in Kamra. The two-hour firefight resulted in the deaths of nine insurgents and two soldiers. Three other soldiers were wounded.<ref name="aljazeera20120816">{{cite news | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/08/2012815234651368597.html | title=Several killed in Pakistan airbase raid | work=Al Jazeera | date=16 August 2012 | agency=Al Jazeera | access-date=16 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816081633/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/08/2012815234651368597.html | archive-date=16 August 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*On 16 August 2012 militants removed 22 Shiites from buses and executed them in Mansehra District. The Darra Adam Khel faction of the TTP claimed responsibility in a telephone interview with Reuters.<ref name="nytimes20120816">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/world/asia/pakistani-taliban-kill-22-shiites-in-bus-attack.html?smid=pl-share | title=Pakistani Taliban Kill 22 Shiites in Bus Attack | work=The New York Times | date=16 August 2012 | access-date=20 August 2012 | author=Masood, Salman | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502031704/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/world/asia/pakistani-taliban-kill-22-shiites-in-bus-attack.html?smid=pl-share | archive-date=2 May 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for the 9 October 2012 school-bus shooting of [[Biography:Malala Yousafzai|Malala Yousafzai]], a young activist blogger, and two other schoolgirls.<ref name=wapo20121009>{{cite news |first1=Haq Nawaz |last1=Khan |first2=Michele Langevine |last2=Leiby |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-says-it-shot-infidel-pakistani-teen-for-advocating-girls-rights/2012/10/09/29715632-1214-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html |title=Taliban says it shot 'infidel' Pakistani teen for advocating girls' rights |work=The Washington Post |date=9 October 2012 |access-date=9 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011054047/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/taliban-says-it-shot-infidel-pakistani-teen-for-advocating-girls-rights/2012/10/09/29715632-1214-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html |archive-date=11 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=nation20121009>{{cite news|url=http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/09-Oct-2012/ttp-claims-responsibility-of-attack-on-malala|author=NNI|title=TTP claims responsibility of attack on Malala|newspaper=The Nation|date=9 October 2012|access-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010144138/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/09-Oct-2012/ttp-claims-responsibility-of-attack-on-malala|archive-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Supporting the attack, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan stated "whom so ever leads a campaign against Islam and Shariah is ordered to be killed by Shariah." He added that it is "not just allowed … but obligatory in Islam" to kill such a person involved "in leading a campaign against Shariah... ."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dawn.com/2012/10/10/taliban-use-islamic-shariah-to-defend-malala-attack/ | title=Taliban use Islamic Shariah to defend Masala Attack | work=dawn.com | date=10 October 2012 | access-date=26 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025181650/http://dawn.com/2012/10/10/taliban-use-islamic-shariah-to-defend-malala-attack/ | archive-date=25 October 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref>
*The TTP claimed responsibility for the 2014 Jinnah International Airport attack, which was carried out jointly with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The militants who participated in the attack were Uzbek foreigners.<ref name="Uzbeks">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27790892|title=Karachi airport: Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claims attack|work=BBC|date=11 June 2014|access-date=11 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611143222/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27790892|archive-date=11 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The TTP claimed responsibility for the 2014 Peshawar school attack which claimed 141 lives, including 132 school children between eight and 18 years of age, with the remaining nine fatalities being staff members of the school.<ref name="Euronews 2">{{cite news |last=Kearney |first=Seamus |date=16 December 2014 |title=Children targeted in Pakistan's deadliest militant attack in years; 132 students are killed |url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/12/16/children-targeted-in-pakistan-s-deadliest-militant-attack-in-years-132-students/ |newspaper=Euronews |access-date=16 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217020934/http://www.euronews.com/2014/12/16/children-targeted-in-pakistan-s-deadliest-militant-attack-in-years-132-students/ |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite news |last=Popham |first=Peter |date=16 December 2014 |title=Peshawar school attack: 'I will never forget the black boots...It was like death approaching me' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/peshawar-school-attack-i-will-never-forget-the-black-bootsit-was-like-death-approaching-me-9929563.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=16 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217044535/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/peshawar-school-attack-i-will-never-forget-the-black-bootsit-was-like-death-approaching-me-9929563.html |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* A commander within the TTP claimed responsibility for the Bacha Khan University attack, in which at least thirty students and teachers were killed by as yet unidentified gunmen. However, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Taliban denied the group's involvement.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jon Boone, Pakistan correspondent, and Jason Burke in Delhi |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/20/bacha-khan-university-explosions-heard-as-gunmen-attack-pakistan |title=Pakistan attacks: at least 30 dead in terror raid at Bacha Khan University &#124; World news |work=The Guardian|date=20 January 2016 |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210091651/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/20/bacha-khan-university-explosions-heard-as-gunmen-attack-pakistan |archive-date=10 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*On 20 January 2017. An IED placed in a vegetable crate, exploded at a vegetable market in Parachinar. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the explosion. The blast killed at least 25 people and injured at least 87 others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deadly blast rocks market in Pakistan's northwest|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1309800/blast-in-parachinar-vegetable-market-kill-20|website=aljazeera.com|date=21 January 2017|publisher=Dawn|access-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818214033/https://www.dawn.com/news/1309800/blast-in-parachinar-vegetable-market-kill-20|archive-date=18 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Tehrik-e Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on 2 February 2018 in which 11 soldiers, including a captain of the Pakistan Army were killed when a terrorist blew himself up during a volleyball match in Swat valley.
*Tehrik-i-Taliban claimed responsibility on 14 February 2018 for an attack in which, their gunmen killed 2 Frontier Constabulary soldiers in Quetta.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/202235/taliban-gun-two-fc-men-quetta/|title=Taliban gun down two FC men in Quetta - Daily Times|date=2018-02-15|work=Daily Times|access-date=2018-02-15|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818213628/https://dailytimes.com.pk/202235/taliban-gun-two-fc-men-quetta/|archive-date=18 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 11 October 2018 a roadside bomb targeted a vehicle belonging to the Pakistani Army in the Ladha Subdivision of South Waziristan, resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and five wounded, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1625671/1-least-one-killed-several-injured-swat-blast/?amp=1|title=Captain among 11 security personnel martyred in Swat suicide attack|date=3 February 2018|publisher=The ExpressTribune|access-date=3 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224010525/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1625671/1-least-one-killed-several-injured-swat-blast/?amp=1|archive-date=24 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack on 27 July 2019, In which Pakistan army said that six of its soldiers were killed when extremists from across the Afghan border opened fire on a patrol in the tribal district of North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-soldiers-killed-extremist-attacks-waziristan-balochistan/30079311.html|title=Pakistani Military Says 10 Soldiers Killed in Attacks By Extremists|publisher=RadioFreeEurope|access-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728030716/https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-soldiers-killed-extremist-attacks-waziristan-balochistan/30079311.html|archive-date=28 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Militants of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for an attack on 18 August 2019 in which least four people were killed and six were wounded in a roadside bomb blast that targeted a vehicle carrying members of a peace committee helping the Pakistani government in its efforts against the Taliban.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/30116019.html|title=Bomb Blast Targets 'Peace Committee' In Northwestern Pakistan|publisher=RadioFreeEurope|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>
* On 14 September 2019, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack an attack on army patrolling party which resulted in the death of one Pakistani soldier. The patrolling party was attacked in Spinwam area in North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/world/story/militant-attack-pakistan-soldiers-kill-dir-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-1599249-2019-09-14|title=Militants attack and kill 4 soldiers in Pakistan|publisher=India Today|access-date=14 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918014115/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/world/story/militant-attack-pakistan-soldiers-kill-dir-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-1599249-2019-09-14|archive-date=18 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for an IED blast in Quetta, on 15 November 2019 in which 3 Pakistani soldier were killed.
* Hizbul Ahrar, a splinter group from the TTP claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on 4 November 2019, that killed 4 Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gandhara.rferl.org/amp/30252756.html|title=Bomb Blasts Kill Four Soldiers in Northwestern Pakistan|publisher=Gandhara|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref>
* In the year 2020, TTP claimed responsibility for 79 attacks that killed 100 and injured at least 206. 80 Pakistan soldiers were also killed in these attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1599504|title=Outlawed TTP continued to regroup in ex-Fata in 2020: report|publisher=Dawn News|access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
*On 14 January 2021, TTP militants killed 4 Pakistan Soldiers in North Waziristan district.<ref name="Anadolu Agency">{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/4-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-separate-clashes/2110282|title=4 Pakistani soldiers killed in separate clashes|publisher=Anadolu Agency|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref>
*On 12 February 2021, TTP Gunmen ambushed a Army Check Post in South Waziristan, the attack lead to deaths of 4 soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four Soldiers Martyred terrorist attack on South Waziristan Post|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1607082/four-soldiers-martyred-in-terrorist-attack-on-south-waziristan-post|publisher= Dawn|access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> 
*On 23 February 2021, four women aid workers were killed in Pakistan’s North Waziristan. The attack was claimed by TTP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/world/pakistan/4-pak-women-aid-workers-killed-in-terror-attack/amp_articleshow/81159848.cms|title=4 Pak women aid workers killed in terror attack|publisher=Times Of India|access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> 
*On 8 March 2021, TTP militants killed a police officer in Rawalpindi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/800902-sho-gunned-down-in-rawalpindi|title=SHO gunned down in Rawalpindi|date=8 March 2021|publisher=The News|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>
*On 21 April 2021, TTP claimed responsibility for a bomb explosion in the parking lot of the Serena Hotel in Quetta, killing four people and wounding 12 others. News Reports suggested that the target was the Chinese ambassador.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 April 2021|title=Pakistan hotel bomb: Deadly blast hits luxury venue in Quetta|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56834937|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1619534|title=4 killed, at least a dozen injured in blast at Quetta's Serena Hotel|work=DAWN|date=21 April 2021}}</ref>
* On 5 May 2021, Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack while they were working on fencing the Pakistan-Afghan border in Zhob, Balochistan. The attack was claimed by TTP.<ref>{{cite news|title=Four Pakistani soldiers killed in terrorist attack while fencing border with Afghanistan|work=The New Indian Ecpress|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/may/05/four-pakistani-soldiers-killed-in-terrorist-attack-while-fencing-border-with-afghanistan-2298778.amp}}</ref>
* On 10 May 2021, 3 Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack, claimed by TTP.<ref>[https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/worldview-3-pakistani-soldiers-killed-142222305.html]</ref>
* On 22 May 2021, a Pakistani soldier was killed while working on fencing the Pakistan-Afghan border. Responsibility of attack was claimed by TTP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gandhara.rferl.org/amp/pakistan-afghanistan-soldier-killed-cross-border-attack/31269152.html|title=Pakistani Soldier Killed In Cross-Border Attack By Afghan Militants|date=23 May 2021|publisher=Gandhara RFE/RL}}</ref>
* On 3 June 2021, TTP carried out an attack in [[Place:Islamabad|Islamabad]], in which two Islamabad Police cops were killed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistani Taliban kill 2 policemen overnight in Islamabad |date=4 June 2021 |url=https://apnews.com/article/islamabad-pakistan-shootings-police-cb46f896d0cde0432c7984d58fd9f0a1 |publisher=AP News}}</ref>
* On 13 July, Pakistani soldiers conducted a rescue operation in Kurram district to retrieve five telecommunications workers who were abducted by the terrorist. The five telecommunications workers were successfully rescued. Two Pakistani soldiers and three members of Tehrik-i-Taliban were killed in the operation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Army rescues 15 laborers kidnapped by terrorists in northwest Pakistan |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/army-rescues-15-laborers-kidnapped-by-terrorists-in-northwest-pakistan/2306028 |work=Anadolu Agency |date=15 July 2021}}</ref>
*On 18 July 2021, TTP claimed responsibility for Twin attacks in which 3 Pakistan soldiers were killed and 4 were injured.
*Between 18 July and 30 July 2021, 24 Pakistan soldiers were killed in attacks claimed by TTP.
*On 1 August 2021, 2 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 9 were wounded in attacks by TTP in South and North Waziristan. <ref> {{cite news|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/2-pakistan-soldiers-killed-9-032705409.html|title=2 Pakistan soldiers killed, 9 injured in terror attacks in Waziristan|date=1 August 2021|publisher=Yahoo.com}}</ref>
*On 8 August 2021, TTP carried out an attack on a military post in North Waziristan. 1 soldier were killed in that attack. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/terrorists-attack-pak-army-troops-in-north-waziristan-one-soldier-killed20210808055735%3famp=1|title=Terrorists attack Pak army troops in North Waziristan, one soldier killed|date=8 August 2021|publisher=ANI}}</ref>
*On 13 August 2021, 1 Pakistan soldier was killed in South Waziristan, attack was claimed by TTP.<ref>{{cite news|title=Soldier martyred, terrorist killed in South Waziristan operation: ISPR|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1640421/soldier-martyred-terrorist-killed-in-south-waziristan-operation-ispr|date=13 August 2021|publisher=Dawn.com}}</ref>
*On 18 August 2021, A Pakistan Army soldier was killed during an exchange of fire with terrorists at a checkpost in the South Waziristan district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1641379|title=Soldier martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists at checkpost in South Waziristan: ISPR|work=DAWN}}</ref>
*On 5 September 2021, 4 FC soldiers were killed in Quetta when a TTP Suicide Bomber struck their Check post.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/world/story/pakistan-quetta-suicide-blast-dead-injured-ttp-1849406-2021-09-05|title=3 dead, 20 injured in suicide attack in Pakistan's Quetta, Imran Khan blames TTP|date=5 September 2021|publisher=India Today}}</ref>

==Involvement in the Syrian Civil War==
TTP have limited aims and focused objectives.<ref>Thruelsen, Peter Dahl. "The Taliban in southern Afghanistan: A localised insurgency with a local objective." Small Wars & Insurgencies 21.2 (2010): 259-276.</ref> TTP have set up camps and sent hundreds of fighters to [[Place:Syria|Syria]] to fight alongside rebels opposed to Bashar al-Assad in an effort to strengthen ties with al Qaeda.<ref name="reuters3">{{cite news |last=Golovnina |first=Maria |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-syria-taliban-idUSBRE96D02V20130714 |title=Pakistan Taliban set up camps in Syria, join anti-Assad war |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2013-07-14 |date=14 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714220351/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/14/us-pakistan-syria-taliban-idUSBRE96D02V20130714 |archive-date=14 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite news |last=Wali |first=Ahmed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23285245 |title=BBC News - Pakistan Taliban 'sets up a base in Syria' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=2013-07-14 |date=12 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603073314/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23285245 |archive-date=3 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/07/14/Pakistan-Taliban-set-up-camps-in-Syria-join-anti-Assad-war.html|title=Pakistan Taliban set up camps in Syria, join anti-Assad war|work=Al Arabiya|date=14 July 2013|access-date=14 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718102054/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/07/14/Pakistan-Taliban-set-up-camps-in-Syria-join-anti-Assad-war.html|archive-date=18 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Pakistan|Islam
}}
{{Div col}}
* Ansar Al-Mujahideen
* Fedayeen al-Islam
* Haqqani network
* [[Social:Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
* List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War
* List of Taliban fatality reports in Pakistan
* Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism
* [[Place:Pashtunistan|Pashtunistan]]
* [[Social:Targeted killing|Targeted killing]]
* Terrorism in Pakistan
{{Div col end}}
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100604110518/http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Docs/Pakistan/Pakistan_Taliban_Bios.pdf "Who Is Who in the Pakistani Taliban: A Sampling of Insurgent Personalities in Seven Operational Zones in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and North Western Frontier Province"], Naval Postgraduate School Program for Culture and Conflict Studies
* [http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/112/article_3617.asp "All Pakistan should be under sharia law, says Taliban spokesperson"], interview with Tehrik-i-Taliban spokesperson Muslim Khan by Tony Cross, Radio France Internationale in English, April 2009
* S. R. Valentine, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110712231836/http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/PSRU_TehrikITalibanPakistan_IdeologyBeliefs.pdf "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan: Ideology and Beliefs"], Pakistan Security Research Unit (PSRU), Briefing Number 49, 8 September 2009.
* S. R. Valentine, [https://books.google.com/books?id=DOIE6IN1JMMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA233#v=twopage&q&f=false {{"'}}We are the Soldiers of Islam': Tehriki Taliban Pakistan and the Ideology of Dissent"], chapter 10. in U. Butt & N. Elahi (eds.), ''Pakistan's Quagmire: Security, Strategy, and the Future of the Islamic-nuclear Nation'', Continuum, 2010. {{ISBN|9780826433008}}.
* Ben Brumfield, [https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/17/world/asia/pakistan-taliban-profile/index.html "Who are the Pakistani Taliban?"], CNN, 17 October 2012

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