Findings of research on TTP violence launched

Islamabad:The Islamabad Policy Research Institute on Tuesday launched a research publication titled, ‘Recrudescence of TTP Violence – Its Causes and Possible Remedies.’

The book, a collaborative effort by the IPRI research team led by Director Research Dr. Raashid Wali Janjua, is among the first to examine the causes of terrorism and the TTP phenomenon using primary sources. The launch event featured speeches from Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to Afghanistan, Ambassador Inam Ul Haq, and several retired military personnel, diplomats, and academics.

The study investigates the reasons behind the recent increase in TTP terrorist activities and explores the effects of the post-US withdrawal environment, both internally and externally. It identified several causes of TTP violence, such as the emergence of a supportive Taliban government in Afghanistan, which non-state actors like the TTP misinterpret as a governance model.

The study also pointed to policy inconsistencies, insufficient political commitment to counter-terrorism, and deficits in the capacity of police and civil administration in the merged districts. Additionally, it highlighted that criminal activities, including smuggling, extortion, and drug trafficking, significantly contribute to terrorism, and called for a comprehensive national effort, consistent policies, and strong political backing to combat TTP terrorism. The research underscored economic integration of the merged districts as a powerful antidote to militancy, besides calling for effective border control and the reduction of trade tariffs, along with subsidies for cross-border trade.