While the traffic in fighters from Pakistan into Afghanistan is a long established issue in the relationship between the two nations, a recent US strike indicates that there is also a reverse flow of traffic, that of fighters crossing from Afghanistan, which they are using as a safe haven into Pakistan.
On March 7th, a U.S. drone struck struck a camp in Kunar Province, part of the N2KL region on the border with Pakistan, killing 21 fighters, including the son of the TTP’s current emir, Fazal Hayat, also known as Mullah Fazlullah. The camp appeared to be training suicide bombers, according to Pakistani media.
The Pakistani Taliban
The Tehrik-i-Taliban grew out of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the notorious border region of Pakistan where the government in Islamabad has little control. When the Pakistani Army swept the area in 2002 to counter an influx of foreign fighters fleeing the war in Afghanistan, those fighters struck alliances with the local groups, leading to conflict between the army and tribal groups who were already suspicious that the army was seeking to impose control on the region.
By 2004, the tribes were effectively in open revolt across the FATA. Peace deals struck with former Taliban commander Nek Muhammed Wazir fell apart when he was assassinated by a US drone that same year, leading to the rise of Beitullah Mehsud. In 2007, after years of on and off fighting in the region, the Pakistani Taliban was declared. They aimed to seize complete control of the FATA region and drive the Pakistani Army out. However, with the assassination of Beitullah Mehsud in 2009, followed by the assassination of his successor, Hakimullah Mehsud in 2013, the group fell into considerable disarray with defections and challenges to the leadership of Mullah Fazlullah.
Border-crossing controversy
The issue of whether the TTP have been using the border and Afghanistan as a safe haven has long been a contentious one for Pakistan. In 2011, Pakistan launched sustained missile attacks against suspected TTP training camps in an operation that lasted several weeks, raising considerable ire in Kabul.
Much like Afghanistan’s frequent complaints that Pakistan supports the Taliban and does little to prevent them crossing the border to attack them, Pakistan levels similar complaints against Afghanistan. It furthermore alleges that both Afghanistan and India’s foreign intelligence service, RAW, are supporting the group.
Conclusion
While this latest report only confirms what the Pakistani security services have known for years, it nevertheless comes at a point where there is heightened tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The N2KL region is also already highly unstable, with the presence of ISKP, the Afghan Taliban and the US military all operating in the area. The addition of the TTP and possibility of Pakistani strikes against their bases – as well as Pakistan being able to more credibly blame Kabul for attacks carried out by the TTP in their territory – threaten to make the situation even less stable.
Marc Simms is an occasional blogger for Proelium Law LLP. Marc holds a MLitt in Terrorism Studies and a Masters in International Relations, both from St Andrews. His particular interests are in emerging international security issues, unconventional warfare and terrorism.
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