Jamaat-ul-Ahrar
| Jamaat-ul-Ahrar | |
|---|---|
|
Participant in the War in North-West Pakistan and the Global War on Terrorism | |
| Active | August 2014 – March 2015[1] |
| Leaders | Omar Khalid Khorasani |
| Area of operations |
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Afghanistan |
| Part of | Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (Rejoined in March 2015) |
| Originated as | Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan faction(Split away in August 2014) |
| Allies | al-Qaeda[2] |
| Opponents |
 Pakistan India[2] |
| Battles and wars | |
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar was a militant Islamist group that split away from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in August 2014.[3] Although some media outlets reported that the group had pledged allegiance to ISIL,[4] it had merely voiced support for the group.[5] In March 2015, the group's spokesman announced that it was rejoining the Pakistani Taliban.[1]
History
Roots and development
In September 2014, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah ousted Mohmand Agency chief Omar Khalid Khorasani (former leader of Ahrar-ul-Hind). Omar Khalid Khorasani and his associates in Mohmand Agency had accused the TTP leadership of deviating from the TTP ideology, leading to the formation of splinter group TTP Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.
The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was effectively divided into two factions. The original TTP is headed by Maulana Fazlullah, who was elected in November 2013 following the killing of ex-chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a U.S. drone strike. In February 2014, Ahrar-ul-Hind, headed by Maulana Umar Qasmi (former leader in the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi) was formed after TTP opened peace talks with the Pakistani government. It later merged into Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a second splinter group that broke away from Tehreek-i-Taliban in Pakistan on September 4, 2014, and named Omar Khalid Khorasani as its commander.[6]
Relations with TTP
The group had announced they would no longer recognize or obey Mullah Fazlullah as their Emir.[7]
Organizational structure
Leaders
Current
- Omar Khalid Khorasani (aka Abdul Wali)- previously led a faction called Ahrar-ul-Hind, which claimed several attacks during a ceasefire period between the government and Taliban earlier this year, including an attack on Islamabad court complex that killed 12 people. He is also of the founding members of the TTP and is a former journalist from Mohmand agency.[7]
Spokesmen
Current
Operation Khyber-1
On November 9, least 13 militants were killed in security forces' offensive in Akakhel which included among the dead two suicide bombers and a key commander. Ehsan confirmed that their key commander Abu Jandal was killed during the Nov 9 bombing in Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley.[8]
Claimed and alleged attacks
- On 2 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the Wagah border attack in a telephone call to Dawn from Afghanistan. "Some other groups have claimed responsibility of this attack, but these claims are baseless. We will soon release the video of this attack," he said. "This attack is revenge for the killing of innocent people in North Waziristan."[9]
- On 7 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for twin bombings that killed at least six people in Mohmand Agency. The bombs targeted peace committee volunteers in Chinari village of Safi Tehsil. Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility and vowed to continue attacking tribal peace committees.[10]
- On 21 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on the membership camp of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Orangi Town area of Karachi. Three members of the Sindh Assembly and 50 workers were injured.[11][12]
- On 15 March 2015, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for twin bombings at a Roman Catholic Church and Christ Church during Sunday service at Youhanabad town of Lahore. At least 15 people were killed and seventy were wounded in the attacks.[13]
See also
- Ehsanullah Ehsan
- Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
- Fazlullah
- Operation Black Thunderstorm
- Operation Zarb-e-Azb
- War in North-West Pakistan
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Pakistani splinter group rejoins Taliban amid fears of isolation". Reuters. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Taliban group threatens to attack India following border blast". Reuters. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ "Pakistan Taliban faction announce split, new leader". Agence France-Presse. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ "ISIS Now Has Military Allies in 11 Countries – NYMag". Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ↑ "Situating the Emergence of the Islamic State of Khorasan". CTC Sentinel. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ↑ http://pakistannewsviews.com/taliban-splinter-group-jamaat-ul-ahrar-forms-in-northwestern-pakistan/
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.dawn.com/news/1130446/ttp-chief-mullah-fazlullah-ousts-commander-umar-khorasani
- ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1143515/jamaatul-ahrar-confirms-death-of-commander-in-khyber-airstrikes
- ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1142006/ttp-splinter-groups-claim-wagah-attack-60-dead
- ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/1142941/twin-blasts-kill-at-least-six-people-in-mohmand
- ↑ three members of the Sindh Assembly and 50 workers were injured in the grenade attack
- ↑ http://www.geo.tv/article-166470-Jamaatul-Ahrar-claims-responsibility-for-attack-on-MQM-camp
- ↑ "Deadly blasts hit Pakistan churches in Lahore". BBC. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.