In a development raising fresh security concerns in the tribal belt, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) has announced that a militant faction based in Loy Mamund tehsil of Bajaur District has formally aligned itself with the group. The announcement was circulated through JuA’s propaganda outlet, Ghazi Media Network, stating that the faction led by commander Faridullah Khaksar has pledged allegiance to JuA’s leadership structure.
What makes this declaration particularly striking is that it comes in open defiance of an earlier warning issued by Mufti Borjan, deputy leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The warning reportedly cautioned against unauthorized realignments and fragmentation within extremist ranks — a sign of internal tensions among proscribed militant outfits.
Both JuA and TTP have long been associated with violent campaigns that have destabilized communities, targeted civilians, and undermined regional security. Their histories of extremism and armed militancy have drawn widespread condemnation and sustained counterterrorism action.
Security observers note that such public declarations of allegiance are often designed to project strength and unity, particularly at times when militant networks face internal discord or operational pressure. However, behind the rhetoric, these shifts may signal deeper fractures and power struggles within outlawed groups.
Loy Mamund tehsil, located along the sensitive Pakistan–Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has previously witnessed militant activity and counterterrorism operations. Any renewed consolidation of extremist factions in the area could pose renewed threats to local stability.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the reported merger. Nonetheless, analysts caution that evolving alliances among banned organizations should be closely monitored, as such moves often precede strategic recalibrations on the ground.
This latest development underscores the volatile dynamics within extremist networks — and raises pressing questions about what may unfold next in Bajaur’s fragile security landscape.
