TehreekeTaliban

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban, is a Islamist militant group operating primarily in Pakistan. Formed around 2007 as an umbrella of Pakistani Taliban factions, the TTP seeks to replace Pakistan’s government with their own interpretation of Sharia and to oppose the state’s cooperation with international security efforts against militancy. The group has historically based itself along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, especially in the tribal areas, and has used cross-border sanctuaries to plan and conduct attacks.

The TTP has carried out numerous attacks on security forces, government institutions, civilians, and infrastructure, contributing to widespread instability in parts of Pakistan. Notable actions have included assaults on military installations and mass-casualty attacks, such as incidents linked to the 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar. The organization operates as a loose network of subgroups, with leadership that has changed over time due to military operations and internal divisions.

Key leaders have included Baitullah Mehsud, the founder who was killed in 2009, Hakimullah Mehsud (2010–2013), and Maulana Fazlullah (2013–2018). The group has remained fragmented, with different factions reporting to various commanders, and has at times sought alliances with other militant networks.

TTP is designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United Nations, and others. It has been targeted by Pakistani security forces and international counterterrorism efforts. In recent years, the group has continued activity along Pakistan’s border regions and in parts of Afghanistan, with periods of heightened violence and intermittent talks with the government.