KEY POINTS
- Unverified video goes viral on social media
- US issues advisory to warning of potential terror attack
- Call for repatriating Afghan nationals
ISLAMABAD: A video showing an unidentified individual holding up a drawing of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) flag in front of Islamabad’s iconic Faisal Mosque has sparked debate about the terror group’s claim of establishing Islamic rule.
Circulating widely on social media, the unverified propaganda video was originally circulated on TTP channels, according to TRAC Terrorism, a self-proclaimed terrorism research and analysis consortium.
The unverified video also prompted a security advisory from the US Mission in Pakistan, which has warned its employees to avoid visiting the landmark due to potential threats from the terrorist group.
The banned terrorist group has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians since 2007. It is considered an ideological offshoot of the Afghan Taliban, although the rulers in Kabul distance themselves from the group.
Yet evidence produced by Pakistani authorities multiple times at international forums suggests that the terror network operates from Afghan soil and carries out cross-border attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces alike.
Through a series of full-scale military operations, Pakistan has largely controlled the menace of terrorism. However, the country is witnessing a resurgence of the menace, chiefly, in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in late 2022.
Is it a real threat?
Islamabad’s police and security agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the video, though sources indicate that authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the individual involved.
According to sources, the video has not been verified yet and it could be either real or fake. “In both cases, the issue warrants a thorough probe and relevant officials are looking into the matter,” said an Islamabad police official on the condition of anonymity on Thursday.
The incident has raised questions about security in the South Asian nation’s capital at a time when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on an official visit to Pakistan and the country is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Given that the TTP has escalated its activities in recent months, could this act be a symbolic challenge to state authority, or is it the work of an individual seeking attention? Nothing can be said with certainty as of now, the police official said.
A place of worship
The iconic Faisal Mosque is spread over 54,000 square feet and can accommodate over 250,000 people at a time.
It houses hundreds of worshippers during prominent religious events and Friday congregational prayers. It is also a popular tourist resort for foreigners.
Given the religious significance of Pakistan’s biggest mosque, the viral video has poked holes in TTP’s claim that they want to establish Islamic rule.
“It makes no sense for the Taliban to issue such threats as it contradicts their claim of establishing Islamic rule, said senior security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali.
“Do they [Taliban] want to give a message that they are against Islam by targeting a place of worship?” he questioned.
The security analyst opined that the terror group seems to be deploying such psychological warfare tactics to spread fear, panic and chaos.
He also questioned the veracity of the video in the age of AI when people with even minimal technical know-how can generate and disseminate deepfake content to promote false narratives.
Security challenges
When asked specifically about the capabilities of TTP in carrying out terrorist attacks in the federal capital, Ali said, “Pakistan needs to step up its efforts to expedite the process of repatriating Afghan nationals back to their home country,” hinting at the fact that Afghan citizens have been involved in terror attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces.
“To enhance Pakistan’s security landscape further, it is imperative that we send Afghan nationals back so they could contribute to the progress of their nation,” Ali said.
“Disproportionate response”
Commenting on the reaction of some foreign missions to the purported threats, he said, “The response from some quarters was highly disproportionate and overblown.”
“It should have been thoroughly probed before issuing an advisory,” he added.
On Wednesday, the US mission in Pakistan warned its citizens stating that the “Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants have issued threats against Faisal Mosque, in Islamabad. The US Embassy Regional Security Office has prohibited US employee travel to the Faisal Mosque area until further notice.”
