Understanding the resurgence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan

Abstract

ABSTARCT Between 2010 and 2021, Pakistan made significant strides in countering terrorism; however, the country is now grappling with a anotherwave of heightened terrorist activities following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as a major perpetrator of numerous attacks since then. Therefore, this study aims to examine the resurgence of TTP in Pakistan. While acknowledging the longstanding influence of structural factors such as socioeconomic and political marginalization, as well as state repression, in fostering and sustaining terrorist organizations, this study argues that these factors alone cannot fully account for the variations in terrorism or the survival mechanisms of different terrorist groups. By focusing on precipitant events, including the role of terrorist leadership, the consolidation of terrorist groups, external support, and the government’s negotiation strategies, this research seeks to establish these events as crucial explanatory variables for understanding the resurgence or revitalization of terrorist organizations like the TTP in Pakistan. The theoretical insights and empirical evidence on TTP presented in this study support the contention that precipitant events offer a more comprehensive explanatory framework for analysing the outcomes of such resurgences.