Key Points:
- Ongoing attacks on religious-political parties and conflicts between Deobandi militant groups and Salafi Groups are expanding into targeting religious-political parties.
- The attack on a certain group is rooted in its pro-Taliban stance and affiliation with a specific school of thought, resulting in a sectarian war that extends into the religious-political space.
- Cooperation between different groups might be feasible against a common threat, but cooperation with other groups could pose challenges.
- Certain groups have targeted political figures, and while they may not attack political rallies, the situation remains complex and unpredictable.
In a recent interview with Abdul Basit a security expert based in Singapore on “Dr. Qamar Cheema Show” discussed about the recent attack in Bajor and the future of transnational terrorism threats.
In response to Dr. Cheema’s query about the recent explosion in Bajor, Abdul Basit emphasized the importance of recognizing that such incidents are not occurring for the first time. He highlighted historical instances of violence involving JUI leaders and indicated that the current situation continues a pattern.
Abdul Basit discussed two aspects: First, the ongoing attacks on religious-political parties in Pakistan, which the TTP justifies as retaliation against those not supporting their political stance. Second, conflicts between Deobandi militant groups like the Afghan Taliban TTP and Salafi Jihadist Group (including ISIS-Khorasan) have led to past attacks. He pointed to specific incidents, like an attack on Sheikh Rahim Ullah Haqqani in Sonheri Mosque, and noted how these conflicts have expanded into targeting religious-political parties like JUI.
Abdul Basit explained that the attack on JUIF is rooted in its pro-Taliban stance and its affiliation with the Deobandi school of thought, which aligns with Dagish’s perspective. He highlighted the sectarian dimension and the strategy of targeting leaders and scholars from different schools of thought, underscoring that this represents a sectarian war expanding into the religious-political space in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Regarding a question about sectarian warfare, Abdul Basit noted that it’s not a new phenomenon but has historical roots. He explained that Taliban perceives Salafi groups as ISKP supporters and, in retaliation, targets Deobandi groups, creating a form of intra-Sunni conflict with local and regional dynamics.
Abdul Basit discussed the local dynamics in Bajor, stating that around 23 JUIF leaders and workers have been targeted in the area. He mentioned JUIF’s call for retaliation against Dagish and how this has fueled tensions. He highlighted the Pakistani dimension of the JUIF-Dagish tussle, focusing on the regional and local aspects.
Regarding cooperation between different groups, Abdul Basit suggested that while cooperation against ISKP might be feasible due to its common threat, cooperation with TTP or Al Qaeda could be more challenging. He expressed the possibility of seeing new equations emerge in the coming months due to ISKP’s global threat.
On the subject of upcoming elections and the involvement of these groups, Abdul Basit clarified that TTP has targeted political figures, including PTI leaders. He explained TTP’s rhetoric and strategy, emphasizing that while TTP may not attack political rallies, the situation is complex and unpredictable. He suggested the potential for shifts in strategy, as witnessed in the past, and highlighted the overall atmosphere of threat.