Islamic State – Khorasan (ISKP) has become quite active in recent days, in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Granted, we expect them to be active in Afghanistan, where they are fighting for legitimacy against the Taliban, the Afghan National Army and the US-led military force. In Pakistan, however, where they have no foothold, no matter what the media would like to report, they are attempting to strike fear into Pakistani hearts.

That’s the top-level of this conversation, but the details that go into understanding the complexities and intricacies are much more difficult. As a point of fact, we will use the most recent statement released by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA).

On the 17th July, 2017, Asad Mansoor, Spokesperson – Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (Jamaat ul Ahrar), issued a statement refuting the Pakistan Army statement that they are part of ISIS/Daesh. It is this statement that we will use to deconstruct their argument.

“Yesterday, the spokesperson of na pak army (Pakistan Army) described that Jamaat ul Ahrar is a secondary group of Daesh.”

Army is commencing an operation against it.

Such a statement lies utterly on a pure propaganda and is a coward act of na pak army.

After a series of setbacks in Operation Ghazi (the TTP current operation) faced by army and proved comprehensively helpless to counter this operation, army followed a shameful path of a blame game.

When army realized that they have to face an embarrassment in a so-called operation Rad ul Fasad, they decided to launch yet again a new operation with a different name.

This move is nothing but an ultimate confession of their defeat.

While announcing the beginning of the new operation, army declared it to aim at Daesh, and revealed that there are several sub-groups of Daesh in this area particularly Jamaat ul-Ahrar is one of such groups.

Whereas, our respected Ameer, Khalid Khorasani had long ago made it clear that we do not belong to Daesh whatsoever. We absolutely deny this baseless claim.

Today one more time, we explain that we are not associated with Daesh.

We are not based in Daesh’s controlled areas neither do we use their routes for our movement and so is true for Daesh in terms of our controlled areas.

There is no existence of Jamaat ul Ahrar in the areas where a new operation hasbeen initiated.

A few days earlier, UN Security Council pronounced Jamat ul Ahrar a terrorist organization. This condemnable action taken by the UN is an explicit sign of a dual policy of Pak govt and na pak army.

We have a comprehensive nature of legit demands with the na pak army and they shall not be defined in the light of any sort of terrorism.

Our struggle is founded on an unmistakable manifesto. Jamaat ul Ahrar is going to launch a legal action in this regard.

It is important to make notice of these cunning actions of na pak army which are nothing but a failed attempt to divert the aim of Jamaat ul Ahrar off the Pak govt and entangle it into aimless efforts.

Let it be clear to all of the institutes of Pak that should it be a complete and solid peace in the whole world or every nation of this planet Earth is engaged in a war, our goal is to see Pakistan a pure and consolidated Islamic state Insha’Allah and for that we would be on our toes until the dream is realized. Inshallah.

Asad Mansoor

Spokesperson – Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (Jamaat ul Ahrar)

Monday. July 17th, 2017