A dangerous power struggle is unfolding in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as violent clashes erupt between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Mahsud group and the breakaway faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA), raising alarm over the escalating militant rivalry in an already volatile region.
According to security sources, JUA has launched a wave of attacks in areas traditionally controlled by the TTP’s Mahsud faction, aiming to undermine its long-held dominance. Intelligence officials confirm that JUA has begun an aggressive expansion campaign, demanding extortion from locals, a tactic previously monopolized by the Mahsud group.
“This is more than just a turf war. JUA wants to plant its flag firmly in the Mahsud heartland,” one source familiar with the matter revealed.
What’s more concerning for regional security is that JUA is reportedly forging closer ties with Hafiz Gul Bahadar’s group, another militant outfit operating in North Waziristan, known for its fluctuating allegiances and history of sheltering foreign militants. This budding alliance could shift the militant balance in the tribal belt.
Both groups, known for ruthless tactics, civilian intimidation, and attacks on security forces, are now engaged in a fierce contest that not only threatens local stability but also complicates counterterrorism efforts.
Despite public claims of unity among TTP factions, the situation reveals deep rifts, ideological fractures, and competing leadership ambitions. The infighting also exposes the false narrative of a unified TTP, which often masks the criminal and tribal feuds within.
Meanwhile, civilians in the area are once again caught in the crossfire — subjected to threats, extortion, and increasing insecurity — while the government continues efforts to monitor and contain the splintering militant landscape.
The growing hostility between JUA and the Mahsud group highlights a broader fragmentation of militant networks, where ideology takes a backseat to power grabs and financial control.
