Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has launched a fresh jihadist operation codenamed ‘Al-Badr’, which will include martyrdom-seeking suicide attacks alongside laser and landmine attacks inside Pakistan including Pakistani security agencies.
According to MEMRI’s Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is a branch of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Afghan Taliban jihadi organization that seized power in August 2021) – has launched Ramadan Operations in the Pakistani tribal region starting on April 2, the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan in Afghanistan.
As the TTP follows the Islamic Emirate, which announced the first of Ramadan in Afghanistan from April 2, the TTP launched the operation the same day in Pakistan. However, Ramadan began in Pakistan on April 3, 2022.
A TTP statement said that the offensive has been codenamed Al-Badr after a significant battle in early Islamic history during the month of Ramadan. The Islamic Emirate used to launch such terror operations against the US forces in Afghanistan. The TTP is now learning these tactics from the Afghan Taliban, who have taken over Afghanistan.
The statement released on the letterhead of TTP spokesman Mohammad Khurasani on March 30 says: “The Leadership Council of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan announces the launch of operation codenamed ‘Al-Badr’ at the beginning of spring season from the 1st of Ramadan 1443H”.
A copy of the TTP statement declaring ‘Al Badr’ operation during Ramadan
Over the past year and especially after the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021, the TTP has been fighting a major war against the Pakistani armed forces in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, especially in North and South Waziristan, where scores of Pakistani soldiers have been killed. The launch of the Al-Badr campaign will mean increased attacks against the Pakistani military.
The TTP statement said about the Ramadan offensive: “In the pious name of Al-Badr, this operation will comprise of martyrdom-seeking operations, ambush attacks, landmine attacks, offensive attacks, targeted attacks, and laser and sniper attacks.” Though the precise meaning is not clear, the word “laser” has been used in such statements in the past to refer to sniper attacks using thermal night-vision goggles.
The TTP statement added: “Allah Willing, [Pakistani] security agencies and their aiders will be the target of all these attacks”.
The MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) scrutinizes Islamist terrorism and violent extremism worldwide, with special focus on activity within and emanating from the Arab world, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, as well as on attacks and activity in the West inspired and encouraged by the Islamic State (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, and other global jihad organizations. This activity includes lone-wolf attacks by residents of Western countries.
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