ISLAM is a religion of peace and love for all of humanity.
Its broader teachings begin with a timeless message of peace that fosters harmony among all people.
This harmony, in turn, purifies hearts of hatred, fear and prejudice.
The philosophy behind Islamic teachings is that through promotion of peace and mutual respect conflicts within societies and broader international communities would reduce equitably.
This process would foster peace and harmony at the level of state and among the wider international community.
Contrary to this Islamic philosophy, the Fitna-Al-Khawarij (FAK) has adopted the philosophy of killing human beings, promoting violence and terrorizing humans including Muslims.
These actions of FAK are against the core values of Islam.
For the last two decades, FAK has been misleading the world while taking cover of Islam.
Because of their inhuman and anti-Islam actions, internationally community has been critical to Muslims and Islam through narratives like Islamophobia, Political Islam and Islamic militancy etc.
These all narratives were constructed in response to un-Islamic acts of FAK while taking cover of Islam and calling themselves as Muslims.
While summarizing the actions of FAK, this terrorist outfit doesn’t fight for Islam and Muslims rather they spread fear by attacking schools, markets and civilian population centres, even mosques and other religious places all over Pakistan.
In fact, FAK have been terrorizing the innocent masses while being hostile to peace and humanity by attacking schools, killing youth and yet justifying their actions.
Indeed, actions of FAK are hostile to both Islamic faith and humanity since they create fear through bombs and bullets.
Their victims are women, children and worshippers.
This terrorist outfit has also been attacking civilian supply vehicles, harming common and innocent human beings which are a serious violation of Islamic teachings; Islam protects the innocents while FAK destroys them.
This terrorist outfit forces people to remain silent with threats and violence while using brutal and ruthless gangs.
In the last two decades, most of their terrorist actions have taken place in KP, in a way destroying the traditional Pashtun culture and traditions.
Indeed, Pashtun culture is based on respect and has rooted through very strong bondage which solves the issues through the Jirga System where negotiations and unity take centre stage.
There has-been no element of fear and violence in Pashtun culture which FAK takes pride.
Destroying a supply conveys cannot be regarded as victory rather it is assault on a working man’s livelihood.
FAK targets the poor and punishes the powerless, proving they serve no just cause but are brutal.
According to UN reports, Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan-(TTP) renamed as Fitna-Al-Khawarij (FAK) has been supported by the Taliban Government of Afghanistan since 2022.
FAK and similar other groups carrying out terrorism in Pakistan have their secured hideouts in Afghanistan.
These terrorists are provided with launching facilities from Afghan soil to Pakistani border areas until their entrance.
Pakistan has provided all the evidence to the UN about Afghan Taliban support to FAK.
The UN issued a report which very clearly says that FAK is an alliance of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
As per UN report, FAK is the “largest terrorist group” on Afghan soil which receives growing support from that country’s Taliban rulers to conduct cross-border attacks in Pakistan.
“FAK continues to operate at a significant scale in Afghanistan and to conduct terrorist operations into Pakistan from there, often utilizing Afghans.
” A UN report estimated the strength of the FAK as 6000-6500.
In the entire process of conducting terrorism in Pakistan, there is a very strong linkage between Afghan Taliban, Al Qaeda and FAK.
The terrorism in Pakistan has to be analyzed through a prospective study and connections between the Afghan Taliban, Al Qaeda and FAK.
In his regards, Bill Roggio, the Senior Fellow and Editor of FDD’s Long War, has written an article, The article is entitled; “Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda aiding Pakistani Taliban’s insurgency”.
His research work deduces that terrorism in Pakistan is done by FAK having Pakistani origin and assisted by the Afghan Taliban Government and Al Qaeda; “Taliban, with the help of Al Qaeda, is directly sheltering, supporting and training the Movement of the FAK in Pakistan despite claims to the contrary.”
Why FAK has increased its activities against Pakistan after 2021 needs debate.
Indeed, the Afghan Taliban Government was re-established in 2021 as a result of the US-Taliban Agreement of February 29, 2020.
They were given complete authority over the entire Afghanistan after two decades of fighting by the same forces which dislodged them in 2001.
Since FAK have their allegiance with the Afghan Taliban, therefore dreamt of having a similar setup?
FAK wanted an area where it could establish its own rule and then expand that to take more areas for terrorism and influence.
FAK was eyeing former FATA, which was misruled under FCR for decades and acted as its hub in the past.
Recently, the Afghan Taliban Government has hinted not to support the terrorist acts of FAK.
Pakistan expects the Afghan Taliban Government to respect its sovereignty and integrity.
Indeed, FAK kills civilians, spreads chaos and feeds on fear.
Their philosophy contradicts Islamic teachings and values.
While disguised themselves as Muslims, FAK are enemies of Islam and peaceful values of Islam.
What FAK calls “Islamic rule” is nothing but brutality dressed as faith; having a place in Islam.
Peace and Justice, not terror, is the true face of Islamic Shariah and FAK stands against it.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad. (drmkedu@gmail.com)
