april 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 4

Defining the Punjabi role played by Punjabi militants.5 One chemistry. Veteran Punjabi extremists investigator working on the Marriott plot the attacks, while the Taliban Network attack revealed that “all evidences Taliban provides the martyrs.”9 of the terrorist bombing led to South By Hassan Abbas Waziristan via Jhang [a city in Punjab The name “Punjabi Taliban” was first where Lashkar-i-Jhangvi has strong used for ethnic Punjabis associated with on march 30, 2009, militants launched links]. The truck that was rammed into Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam (HuJI) who, a deadly assault on a police training the hotel was also from Jhang.” under the leadership of Qari Saifullah center outside Lahore, the capital of Akhtar, went to support and join the Pakistan’s Punjab Province. Eight po- This article attempts to define the regime of Taliban leader Mullah Omar 1 lice cadets were killed. Less than a Punjabi Taliban network, in addition in Afghanistan in the mid-1990s.10 The month earlier, on March 3, gunmen in to profiling the three main factions that second time the name was used was Lahore ambushed members of the vis- contribute to its ranks. in 2001-2003 when former Pakistani iting Sri Lankan cricket team, killing President banned at least eight people. Punjab, the most Who are the “Punjabi Taliban”? some militant and sectarian groups that populated of Pakistan’s provinces, has The Punjabi Taliban network is a loose had a support base in Punjab.11 As a result, largely escaped the bloodshed plaguing conglomeration of members of banned some of these elements began moving to 2 the country’s troubled northwest. Yet militant groups of Punjabi origin— FATA to seek safe havens and establish since 2007, violence has escalated in sectarian as well as those focused on the new camps. These Punjabi militants the province. The bold terrorist attacks conflict in Kashmir—that have developed also reportedly established separate in Pakistan’s heartland—within Punjab strong connections with Tehrik- training centers in FATA, especially in Province and in the Pakistani capital of i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Afghan North Waziristan.12 The most recent use Islamabad—show that local logistical Taliban and other militant groups of the name began in 2007, when Maulvi support for these attacks is attributable based in the Federally Administered Nazir, a militant leader who with some to what is often labeled the “Punjabi Tribal Areas (FATA) and North-West official Pakistani support challenged 3 Taliban” network. The major factions Frontier Province (NWFP).6 They Uzbek foreign fighters residing in of this network include operatives from shuttle between FATA and the rest of South Waziristan, was hailed by some Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, providing logistical support as a leader of the Punjabi Taliban. This Pakistan and Jaysh-i-Muhammad—all to FATA- and Afghan-based militants to allegation arose because Maulvi Nazir groups that were previously strictly fo- conduct terrorist operations deep inside attracted many Punjabi recruits from cused on Kashmir and domestic sectar- Pakistan. Between March 2005 and banned organizations to fight Uzbek ian violence. March 2007 alone, for example, about foreign fighters.13 The plan worked, but 2,000 militants from southern and not without creating another frightening Members of these groups are northern Punjab Province reportedly menace in the shape of a reenergized increasingly supporting Taliban moved to South Waziristan and started “Punjabi Taliban.” elements from Pakistan’s tribal regions different businesses in an effort to to conduct attacks in sensitive cities create logistical support networks.7 The current Punjabi Taliban network has such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Given their knowledge about Punjabi a number of key features. First, it lacks Lahore. Ongoing investigations into cities and security structure, they have any organization or command structure the Marriott Hotel bombing that rocked proved to be valuable partners for the and operates as a loose network of Islamabad in September 2008, in which TTP as it targets cities in Punjab, such elements from distinct militant groups. dozens of Punjabi suspects were arrested as Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.8 Members from Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ), 4 and interrogated, demonstrate the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Jaysh- Perhaps the best explanation of the i-Muhammad (JeM) and their various 1 Barry Newhouse, “Pakistani Taliban Claim Responsi- Punjabi Taliban’s structure came from bility in Lahore Police Attack,” Voice of America, March Tariq Pervez, the newly appointed 9 Kaustav Chakrabarti, “Taliban Spreads into Pakistan’s 31, 2009. head of Pakistan’s nascent National Heart,” Rediff.com, February 13, 2009. 2 This consists of the Federally Administered Tribal Ar- Counterterrorism Authority (NACTA): 10 Amir Mir, “HUJI Chief Still at Large,” The News, Sep- eas and the North-West Frontier Province, which both “ideas, logistics, cash [comes] from tember 23, 2008. lie near the tumultuous border with Afghanistan. the Gulf. Arab guys, mainly Egyptians 11 These groups include: Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Mu- 3 Although Baitullah Mehsud, the head of Tehrik-i- and Saudis, are on hand to provide the hammad (SMP), Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Tehrik- Taliban Pakistan (TTP), accepted responsibility for the i-Jafria (TeJ), Jaysh-i-Muhammad (JeM) and Lashkar-i- March 30 attack on the police academy, there are wit- 5 Tariq Butt, “Mastermind of Marriott Bombing Es- Tayyiba. When some of these groups started operating nesses who heard some of the terrorists conversing in capes,” The News, November 17, 2008. under new names—TeJ as Islami Tehrik Pakistan, SSP Seraiki—a Punjabi dialect spoken in southern Punjab. 6 Saeed Shah, “Pakistan Blames Taliban for Lahore At- as Millat-i-Islami Pakistan, and JeM as Khudamul Is- This suggests that Punjabi militants either orchestrated tack Which Leaves 11 Dead,” Guardian, March 31, 2009; lam—they were also banned in 2003. the attack, or at least collaborated with the TTP. See Sa- Rahimullah Yusufzai, “And Now There is Tehrik-e-Tali- 12 Pir Zubair Shah and Salamn Masood, “U.S. Reported brina Tavernise and Sharon Otterman, “Militants Claim ban Baluchistan,” The News, March 4, 2009. to Kill 12 in Pakistan,” New York Times, September 12, Responsibility for Pakistan Attack,” New York Times, 7 Aamir Latif, “Punjabi Taliban Rise in Waziristan,” Is- 2008. April 1, 2009. lamOnline.net, April 22, 2009. 13 Mushtaq Yusufzai, “Letter Explains Drive Against 4 The suspects included members of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi 8 This information is based on an assessment shared by Foreign Militants in Waziristan,” The News, April 5, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam. a senior official of the Ministry of Interior, Islamabad. 2007. april 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 4 splinter groups are all considered to internet access and communications Tariq, who has been monitored by law be part of this loose network. Small equipment are more readily available. enforcement for years, was previously cells unaffiliated with any larger group primarily engaged in sectarian attacks are also involved. This designation, Fifth, unlike TTP cadres and Afghan on the Shi`a. Lately, however, he has however, does not apply to all members Taliban, the Punjabi Taliban are been found involved in kidnappings- of LeJ, SSP, and JeM; it only refers to purportedly more prone to mercenary for-ransom and attacks on foreigners. individuals or factions who shifted actions. Pakistani intelligence sources He played a central role in the February to FATA or collaborate closely with claim that the Punjabi Taliban can be killing of a Polish engineer who was the TTP, Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat- hired by domestic as well as regional working in the area for an NGO.23 e-Mohammadi (TNSM) and other militant operators to undertake freelance groups from the tribal areas. operations.18 For instance, it is widely Similarly, LeJ is believed to be the known in Punjab law enforcement “lynchpin of the alignment between Second, many of these militants directly circles that many in the Punjabi Taliban al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and benefited from state patronage14 in the began their careers as criminals.19 They sectarian groups.”24 LeJ was the first 1990s (and in some cases even later) originally moved to FATA (after their Punjab-based militant group to shift and were professionally trained in organizations were banned) to raise its members to Afghanistan during the asymmetrical warfare, guerrilla tactics funds through drug smuggling and Taliban era. This allowed it to establish and sabotage. The Punjabi Taliban are acquire weapons from the weapons early connections with al-Qa`ida’s increasingly using heavy weapons and markets of Dara Adam Khel.20 leadership in the mid-1990s. operating independent of the TTP or other militant groups that belong to Finally, the Punjabi Taliban are more Many mosques and madrasas linked the area. In late December 2008, for likely to conduct fidayin attacks, which, with LeJ and SSP in Punjab operate example, five Punjabi Taliban killed in in the South Asian context, implies as the networking centers for the a drone missile attack were observed that the attacker comes equipped with Punjabi Taliban.25 After recent police “patrolling the area [South Waziristan] weapons and ammunition and is willing interrogations of LeJ members, Karachi’s in pickup trucks mounted with heavy to fight until death. This is in contrast police chief publicly maintained guns and had been firing at drones to suicide bombings, where the death of that these militants “confessed to wherever they spotted them. The vehicles the attacker is required. involvement in attacks on security were camouflaged with mud and grass.”15 forces and NATO suppliers in northern Third, most of the groups are Sunni Major Factions of Punjabi Taliban Network areas” of Pakistan while also admitting and Salafist in orientation. A recent Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LeJ) that they select “prospective fighters International Crisis Group report Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) from the city [Karachi] and trains maintained that “violent Deobandi These two associated and banned them in Waziristan and Miranshah for networks in Punjab lie at the root of groups are largely Punjab-based. combating security forces.”26 Despite Pakistan’s militancy problem.”16 The Estimates place LeJ’s numbers at less being banned, both groups are active various components of the Punjabi than 1,000, and the group is almost throughout Pakistan. Although LeJ has Taliban owe their ideological training entirely composed of militants. The been targeted by Pakistan’s civil and to hardline Deobandi madrasa networks SSP, which is also a political group, has military agencies, the SSP has largely that were nurtured and expanded in been estimated to have around 100,000 managed to escape such targeting Punjab during President Zia ul-Haq’s active members, but the number of because of its larger support base, evident years in office from 1977-1988. active fighters is probably in the 2,000- through the fact that prior SSP candidates 3,000 range.21 Although both groups have won national assembly seats. Fourth, Punjabi militants are distinct are anti-Shi`a in essence, their members from traditional Pashtun Taliban—in have been involved in pursuing Jaysh-i-Muhammad (JeM) terms of language, dress and other other agendas vis-à-vis Kashmir and A splinter group of Harkat-ul Mujahidin identifiable features. The Punjabi Taliban Afghanistan. For instance, one of the (HuM),27 JeM derives its strength from are comparatively more educated, better former members of the SSP, identified as Punjab Province. Although banned equipped and technologically savvier “Commander Tariq,” reportedly heads in 2001 and having faced internal than their Pashtun counterparts.17 This the local Taliban in Darra Adam Khel, divisions, it is still operative and is a result of their upbringing in Punjab located between the Kohat area in the 22 Province (which has better educational NWFP and Orakzai Agency in FATA. 23 Mazhar Tufail, “New Efforts Launched to Recover Re- facilities) and urban linkages where mains of Polish Engineer,” The News, March 2, 2009. 18 According to this allegation, Punjabi Taliban groups 24 “Pakistan: The Militant Jihadi Challenge.” 14 This patronage developed because the country’s intel- could undertake operations for radical Muslim groups, 25 Saeed Shah, “Pakistan Bombings Spur Hunt for New ligence agencies utilized them for supporting the insur- or even the Afghan or Indian intelligence agencies. al Qaeda Boss,” Globe and Mail, April 5, 2009. gency in Kashmir against India. 19 Personal interviews, Pakistani police officers, Punjab 26 Faraz Khan, “5 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Activists Arrest- 15 “Twin Drone Strikes Kill 5 Punjabi Taliban,” Daily Province, March 2009. ed,” Daily Times, April 9, 2009. Times, December 23, 2008. 20 Ibid. 27 HuM, largely dismantled, had linkages with the Kash- 16 International Crisis Group, “Pakistan: The Militant 21 These numbers are derived from various reports. They mir theater as well as with al-Qa`ida. Its leader, Fazlur Jihadi Challenge,” March 13, 2009. are only general estimates. Rahman Khalil, was a signatory to Usama bin Ladin’s 17 “Why Mehsud is Claiming Responsibility for At- 22 Personal interviews, Pakistani police officers, Punjab 1998 declaration of war. It largely remains committed to tacks,” Daily Times, April 8, 2009. Province, March 2009. the Kashmiri cause. april 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 4 changes its name every few years to Other analysts are less sanguine. evade scrutiny. General estimates place Pakistani security analyst Zeenia Satti its active ranks at around 5,000, with recently predicted that the “Punjabi about 1,500-2,000 fighters.28 Part of chapter of the Tahrik-e-Taliban-e- the reason its cadres are not pursued Pakistan will emerge with a ferocity effectively is due to the incompetence that may dwarf the Baitullah Mehsuds of civilian law enforcement. Pakistani and the Mullah Fazlullahs of NWFP.”32 analyst Amir Rana, however, alleges This development would amount to a that another factor explains why JeM significant danger to Pakistan because has retained its strength: “The military Punjab is not only the most populous wants to keep alive its strategic options and prosperous province, but is home in Kashmir.”29 Although the government to the army headquarters and sensitive of Pakistan claims they do not know nuclear installations. Furthermore, a the whereabouts of JeM’s chief, Masood major component of the Azhar, it is rumored that he is with comes from the province; if civil strife Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan.30 or civil war were to escalate and the army was called in to control law and Conclusion order, it could cause cracks in the army’s More information is needed to fully discipline. Although this is a worst case understand the dynamics of the Punjabi scenario, it is nevertheless critical to Taliban network, but early indicators enhance Pakistan’s law enforcement are that it is still in the initial stages of capacity and counterterrorism strategy development. It caters to the aspirations, to prevent this outcome from becoming financial needs and worldview of those a reality. militants who believe that they were abandoned by the intelligence agencies Dr. Hassan Abbas is a fellow at Harvard in pursuance of Musharraf’s directives University’s Kennedy School of Government. after 9/11.31 Elements from groups such Previously, he served in the administrations of as Lashkar-i-Tayyiba (and its associated and Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan. group, Jama`at-ud-Da`wa), however, are He is also the author of Pakistan’s Drift into apparently not linked with the Punjabi Extremism: Allah, the Army and America’s Taliban because their command and War on Terror. control as well as hierarchical structure has remained intact over the years. In comparison, LeJ and JeM splintered into smaller groups due to policy differences among leaders and disagreements over properties and finances.

It is unlikely that the Punjabi Taliban network will transform itself into an organized group in the near future. Instead, it will remain a loose coalition of members from more prominent terrorist organizations. The purpose of undertaking operations under the moniker of the “Punjabi Taliban” is that they have the freedom to operate without the level of command and control inherent when working for the more established militant outfits.

28 These numbers are derived from various reports. They are only general estimates. 29 Chris Brummitt, “Pakistan Militants Strengthen in Heartland,” Associated Press, March 23, 2009. 30 A large JeM-controlled madrasa cum “physical activi- ty center” in the heart of Masood Azhar’s home city of Ba- hawalpur is still operational. Azhar reportedly launched his new book from there in early 2008. 31 Amir Mir, The True Face of Jihadis: Inside Pakistan’s 32 Zeenia Satti, “Post Mumbai Hype,” The News, March Network of Terror (Lahore: Mashal Books, 2005). 26, 2009.