An Assessment of Counter Insurgency Strategy Against TTP in Tribal Belt

Authors

  • Dr. Aamir Khan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v5i1.501

Keywords:

Counter-Insurgency, Flawed Approach, Governance, Resurgence, Post-Military Operations, Local Grievances, Security Failure

Abstract

Pakistan’s tribal belt is facing a renewed wave of insurgency with changes in tactics and approaches from TTP. The overall strategic and security environment in the tribal belt is becoming a no-go area again. The challenges are complex. Ranging from past security vacuums to the structural flaws in governance and denial of winning public trust in pre- and post-insurgency scenarios. The resurgence of TTP is a complex phenomenon as a result of complex variables, both internal and external. The leadership of Noor Wali Mehsud played an important role in re-organizing and restructuring TTP in the tribal belt and KP. This issue and counterinsurgency strategy were badly ignored in the tribal belt. The consequences are now in front of state and security forces in Pakistan. Therefore, this paper aims to critically analyze Pakistan's counter-insurgency strategies in the post-military actions in the tribal belt and will look at major policy errors and loopholes in this regard.

References

Baloch, K. (2024, September 12). BLA-TTP collaboration in Balochistan: alliance or anomaly? DAWN.COM. https://www.dawn.com/news/1856227

Beckett, I. F. (2001). Modern Insurgencies and Counter-insurgencies: Guerrillas and their Opponents since 1750. Routledge.

Bryman, A. (1996). ‘Leadership in organizations. In S. R. Clegg; C. Hardy, & W. R. Nord (Eds.), Handbook of organization studies (pp. 281–282). Sage Publications.

Bukhari, R. (2022, July 18). Merger and reform in ex-Fata. DAWN.COM. https://www.dawn.com/news/1700228

Clausewitz, C. (2003). On war. Penguin UK.

Collins, R. (2011). Patrimonial alliances and failures of state penetration: A historical dynamic of crime, corruption, gangs, and Mafias. The Annals Of The American Academy Of Political And Social Science, 636(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716211398201

Dawn. (2018a, January 12). Bill extending PHC, SC jurisdiction to Fata passed by national Assembly. https://www.dawn.com/news/1382472.

Freeman, M. (2014). A theory of terrorist leadership (and its consequences for leadership targeting). Terrorism and Political Violence, 26(4), 666–687. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2012.751912

Galula, D. (2006). Counterinsurgency warfare: Theory and practice. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Jadoon, A., & Mahmood, S. (2018). Fixing the cracks in the Pakistani Taliban’s foundation: TTP’s leadership returns to the Mehsud Tribe. Combating Terrorism Sentinel, 11(11), 21-25.

Jadoon, A., & Sayed, A. 2021. The Pakistani Taliban is Reinventing itself. 9Dashline, 28 October. https://www.9dashline.com/article/the-pakistani-taliban-is-reinventing-itself

Joes, A. (2004). Resisting rebellion: the history and politics of counterinsurgency. University Press of Kentucky.

Khan, H. (2018, September 23). FCR by another name: Interim regulations for tribal areas are temporary. The Express Tribune, p. B2. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1809943/fcr-another-name-interim-regulations-tribal-areas-temporary

Khan, T. (2018, January 15). “Pakistan Taliban Book Claims Group was Behind Benazir Bhutto’s Assassination. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1225801/world

Khan, T. (2022, September 28). TTP Ends Ceasefire with Govt, orders its Militants to ‘carry out attacks in entire country. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1723647

Mockaitis, T. (2003). Winning hearts and minds in the ‘war on terrorism’. Small wars and insurgencies, 14(1), 21-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592310412331300546

Nagl, J. (2006). Principles, Imperatives, and Paradoxes of Counterinsurgency,” Military Review, March-April pp. 49-53. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA486811.pdf

O’Neill, W. (2002). Responding to Terrorism: What Role for the United Nations? International Peace Academy. https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/conference_report_terr.pdf

Sayed, A., & Hamming, T. (2021). The Revival of the Pakistani Taliban. CTC Sentinel, 14(4), 28-38. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-revival-of-the-pakistani-taliban/

Sayed, A., & Hamming, T. (2023). The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan After the Taliban’s Afghanistan Takeover. CTC Sentinel, 16(5), 1–12. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-tehrik-i-taliban-pakistan-after-the-talibans-afghanistan-takeover/

Steinberg, J. B. (2002). Counterterrorism: A New Organizing Principle for American National Security?. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/counterterrorism-a-new-organizing-principle-for-american-national-security

Steinberg, J. B. (2004). An elective transatlantic partnership for the 21st century. Crossing the atlantic, 19.

Syed, B. S. (2025, February 15). TTP still gets financial, logistic support from Afghan Taliban. Dawn.com. https://www.dawn.com/news/1892006.

Tse-tung, M. (1961). On Guerrilla Warfare. Translated by Samuel B. Griffith. Champaign, IL.

Vego, M. (2007). The Development of Schwerpunkt. Military review.

Zahid, F. (2019). Profile of New TTP Chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud: Challenges and Implications. Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS). Published on April, 15, 2019

Downloads

Published

2025-03-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

An Assessment of Counter Insurgency Strategy Against TTP in Tribal Belt. (2025). Journal of Social Sciences Review, 5(1), 403-411. https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v5i1.501