Farhan Zahid

Farhan Zahid has done his Ph.D. in Counter Terrorism (Topic: Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist violent Non-State Actors in Pakistan and their relationship with Islamist Parties) from Vrije University Brussels, Belgium. He writes on counter-terrorism, al-Qaeda, Pakistani al-Qaeda-linked groups, Islamist violent non-state actors in Pakistan, militant landscapes in Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.

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Articles by Farhan Zahid

Jaish al-Adl and the Persistent Hostilities between Iran and Pakistan

Executive Summary Following a week of hostility after tit-for-tat missile and air strikes, Iran and Pakistan have deescalated tensions and normalized relations, though Jaish al-Adl—the proximate cause for the recent

Abdul Bari: Mastermind Behind ISKP’s Massacre of Hazara Shias Finally Arrested

Immediately after the fall of Mosul in June 2014 and the subsequent declaration of a “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, Islamic State (IS) reached out to Islamist terrorist networks, cultivated

Rising Trend of Female Suicide Bombers in Baluchistan: Examining the Case of Samia Qalandarani

Women have played multifaceted roles in terrorist organizations since the advent of modern terrorism. The militant landscape of Pakistan is no different. In the recent past, Islamist terrorist organizations, such

Tides Turn Against the Pakistani Taliban: The Killing of Iqbal Bali

Since the fall of Kabul and the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in August 2021, Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK) Province has faced a resurgence of Islamist terrorism. The

The Mysterious Assassination of a Former al-Badr Commander in Karachi: The Case of Syed Khalid Raza

On the evening of February 26, two gunmen riding on a motorcycle assassinated Syed Khalid Raza (Khalid) in the Gulistan-e-Johar neighborhood of Karachi (Dawn, February 27). Khalid was known as

At War with Pakistan: The Assassination of TTP Commander Omar Khalid Khorasani and its Impact on the “Pakistani Taliban”

After the fall of the Afghan government in August 2021, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan once again emerged as a safe haven for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the “Pakistani Taliban.” Despite

Is Afghanistan Still a Safe Haven for the Pakistani Taliban? Assessing the Mysterious Assassination of Mohammad Khorasani

Since the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul to the Afghan Taliban on August 15, 2021, the security situation for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan

Guardian of Islamabad’s Red Mosque: A Profile of Moulana Abdul Aziz

Introduction With the fall of Kabul on August 15 and the reestablishment of the Afghan Taliban government, an uptick in Islamist terrorism in neighboring Pakistan appears inevitable. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

The Afghan Release of Faqir Mohammad Unleashes New Wave of TTP Attacks on Pakistan

In the vast jihadist landscape of Pakistan, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a relative newcomer. The TTP was formed in 2007 and can be best considered an agglomerate of more

Ahmad Omar Saeed Shaikh: New Updates in Daniel Pearl Murder Case

The Supreme Court of Pakistan's acquittal of Ahmad Omar Saeed Shaikh is a recent but shocking development in the Daniel Pearl murder case. The kidnapping and beheading of the Wall

Baluch Nationalist-Separatist Militant Alliance Threatens Pakistani Security Forces

Pakistan’s restive Baluchistan province has experienced a fresh wave of nationalist-separatist terrorist attacks since 2019, with new targets indicating shifting trends. Baluch nationalist–separatist militant groups have not only ramped up

The Mysterious al-Shahab al-Mohajir—The New Emir of Islamic State-Khorasan

Islamic State has selected a new emir for its branch in Afghanistan, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K). In a surprising move, the Syrian-based central leadership of IS has chosen al-Shahab al-Mohajir—a foreign

Omar Shaikh’s Release: Opening Pandora’s Box

One of the most interesting developments during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan was the decision by the Sindh High Court to overturn the death sentence of Ahmad

Escape from Pakistan: TTP Spokesperson Ehsan ullah Ehsan Fled from Custody

In February 2017, Pakistani security and law enforcement authorities managed to get Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ehsan ullah Ehsan to defect to Pakistani authorities. Or, at least, government officials proclaimed

Potential for al-Qaeda-Islamic State Cooperation in Afghanistan

Frequent speculation has recently been posited that Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda affiliates could eventually coalesce again, or at the least, begin cooperating at a more notable level than was

Mukaram Khan: Hizb ul-Ahrar – The New Security Challenge in Pakistan

On November 14, 2019, 14 people were injured when a bomb exploded in Lahore. The attack was later claimed by Hizb ul-Ahrar (HuA), a relatively new terrorist group in Pakistan

Death of AQIS-linked Commander Abdul Jabbar: Another Blow to al-Qaeda in Pakistan

Recent comments in jihadist publications in Pakistan and Afghanistan suggest there is animosity among jihadist groups over the death of Qari Abdul Jabbar in July. His body was found in

Daud Mehsud—Islamic State Names First Emir of Wilayat-e-Pakistan

One of the most recent developments related to Islamic State’s (IS) activities in South Asia was the announcement of two new wilayat (governorates)—Wilayat-e-Hind and Wilayat-e-Pakistan (See Terrorism Monitor, July 3).

Death of AQIS Emir Asim Umar has Serious Implications for Al-Qaeda

Following the death of Hamza bin Laden, al-Qaeda has lost another key leader in late September after U.S. and Afghan security forces killed al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) emir

Baluch Raji Ajohi Sangar: Emergence of a New Baluch Separatist Alliance

The surfacing of a new Baluch separatist organization in Pakistan’s terrorism-ridden Baluchistan province marks a major new development. The newly established organization, Baluch Raji Ajohi Sangar (BRAS) (in English, Baluch

Zakir Musa’s Death and its Impact on al-Qaeda’s Ambitions in Indian Kashmir

Zakir Rashid Bhat, a.k.a. Zakir Musa, the emir of the al-Qaeda-linked group Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), was killed in an encounter with Indian security forces on May 23 in the Tral

Two New IS Wilayat in South Asia: IS Reinvigorates Itself in Pakistan and India

After the unexpected terrorist attack in Sri Lanka in May, Islamic State’s (IS) Central Shura (council) announced the establishment of two new Wilayat (governorates) in South Asia. The seven simultaneous

Shafi Muhammad Burfat: Advocate for Sindhi Independence from Pakistan

The separatist movement in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province is one of South Asia’s oldest irredentist movements. Separatist tendencies based on irredentist ideals have surfaced repeatedly in Pakistan’s Sindh and Baluchistan

TTP’s Future Under the Leadership of New Emir Noor Wali Mehsud

Since its establishment in 2007, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has remained a potent threat and the most dangerous Islamist terrorist organization in Pakistan. The TTP has been involved in upwards of

Peace Talks with Afghan Taliban and its Implications for Pakistan

Negotiations leading toward a peaceful solution for a longstanding politically violent conflict is generally the desire of neighboring nations. In the recent past, several terrorist campaigns have ended after rounds

Post-Mortem Analysis: The Assassination of Taliban Godfather Sami ul Haq

Among jihadist circles in Pakistan, few ideologues managed to attract such widespread respect and charisma as Maulana Sami ul Haq. His credentials include Islamist jihadist writings, fatwas against Western forces,

Al-Qaeda’s Man in the Indian Kashmir Insurgency: Zakir Musa

Apparently, al-Qaeda finds it difficult to lure in fresh Islamist militants amid the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in 2014 and the establishment of its self-proclaimed Islamic Caliphate. This

BLA’s Suicide Squad: Majeed Fidayeen Brigade

Background The Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) is considered one of the oldest Baluch nationalist-separatist terrorist groups operating in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan. The ongoing insurgency started in 2006. The

At War with the Taliban—A Profile of Islamic State Fighter Moavia Uzbeki

The recent Battle of Darzab saw the Afghan Taliban inflict a crushing defeat on Islamic State-Khurasan, at least in Afghanistan’s Jowzjan province. Clashes between the two militant groups started in

Recent Wave of Terrorism in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan Region

The recent wave of terrorist attacks on girls’ schools in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan has once again highlighted the fact that no region of Pakistan is safe from

The Mystery Emir: Who is IS-K Commander Shaikh Aslam Farooqi?

The sudden rise of Islamic State’s Khurasan Chapter (IS-K, or Waliyat-e-Khurasan) in September 2014 took the security policymakers of Pakistan and Afghanistan by surprise. The global Islamist terrorist organization was

Growing Network of IS-K in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province

With the fall of Mosul in July 2014, the Islamic State (IS) started to spread its tentacles, luring in Islamist terrorist groups all over the world. This includes many groups

Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud: The New Ideologue-Warrior Leader of TTP

News of the death of Mullah Fazalullah, the most wanted man in Pakistan and Emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan brought a sigh of

Pakistani Taliban: Mullah Fazlullah’s Death Revives Mehsud Clan Fortunes

Mullah Fazlullah, the notorious Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emir, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in June, along with four of his commanders, in the Marawar district of Kunar province

Islamic State Emboldened in Afghanistan

From its establishment in September 2014, Islamic State’s arm in Afghanistan, its Khorasan province entity (IS-K), found itself the target of attacks by Afghan Taliban forces and strikes by the

Leading Pakistan’s Nascent Form of Extremism: The Rise of Khadim Hussain Rizvi

Barelvi sect extremism has recently emerged as a new phenomenon in extremism in Pakistan. It is unique in that Pakistanis are accustomed to various Deobandi and Salafist militant groups carrying

Pakistan’s Most Wanted: LeJ Commander Mati ur Rehman Cooperates to Kill

Few militants have remained on as many most-wanted lists in Pakistan, and abroad, as Mati ur Rehman. Rehman is indeed the most wanted terrorist in Pakistan (Pakistan Today, March 2,

Attacks in Kabul Highlight Taliban-Islamic State Tensions

Over the last two months, a spate of terrorist attacks has struck the Afghan capital of Kabul. Islamist insurgents carried out at least five strikes in Kabul in January and,

Pakistan’s JuA Commander Brushes With Death: A Look at Omar Khalid Khorasani

Few terrorist commanders in the Pakistani militant landscape are as ruthless, or notorious, as Omar Khalid Khorasani, the Emir of Jamaat ul Ahrar (JuA). JuA is part of the al-Qaeda-linked

Pakistan’s Tanzeem-e-Islami and Its Troublesome Extremist Links

A number of Pakistan’s Islamist organizations that agitate for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate but profess to be non-violent are finding renewed prominence, a concerning result of the surfacing

Al-Qaeda’s New Hope on the Run: A Profile of Ansar al-Sharia Pakistan Emir Abdul Karim Saroush Siddiqui

A series of terrorist attacks swept Karachi this summer. At least six terrorist attacks — five in Karachi and one in the remote Mastung district of Baluchistan province — were

Ata Ullah Leads Rohingya Insurgents in Myanmar

On August 25, in what has been described as a “Tet Offensive” styled attack, Ata Ullah, the Emir of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), led an estimated 1,000 militants in

Jamaat ul Ansar al-Sharia: The New al-Qaeda Threat in Pakistan

Recent months have seen the sudden emergence in Pakistan of an organization calling itself Jamaat ul Ansar al-Sharia Pakistan. The new entity has been reported to be behind a series

Pakistan: Should New U.S. Afghanistan Strategy Concern Militant Leaders?

On August 21, the United States announced its new strategy for the next phase of the War in Afghanistan (Dawn, August 23; Dawn, August 22). Laid out in a speech

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s Next Generation Commander: Yousaf Mansoor Khurasani

Few Islamist terrorist organizations in Pakistan are as resilient as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). The violent sectarian outfit surfaced in 1990, after the assassination of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, an anti-Shia, ultra-orthodox Deobandi

Jaish al-Adl’s Reemergence Threatens Iran-Pakistan Relations

Pakistan’s tense relations with its neighbor Iran were further impacted on April 27 when militants from Jaish al-Adl (JuA, Army of Justice), a Sunni group that allegedly operates from across

Life After Death: The Dangerous Rhetoric of Pakistani Televangelist Tariq Jameel

Since the start of the Global War on Terror, Pakistan has experienced widespread suicide bombings perpetrated by Islamist terrorist organizations ranging from global groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS)

Jihad as a Family Tradition: The Continuing Legacy of Khalid Shaikh Mohammad

Few terrorists have been able to achieve the level of success in perpetrating acts of terrorism as achieved by Khalid Shaikh Mohammad (KSM), the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. KSM,

Afghan Forces’ Unexpected Win: The Killing of Qari Saifullah Akhter

The death in a clash with Afghan forces of long-time Pakistani jihadist Qari Saifullah Akhter, the emir of Pakistan’s Harkat ul Jihad e Islami, is both a surprising victory for

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al-Alami: A Pakistani Partner for Islamic State

Among the terrorist attacks that shook Pakistan last year, three jointly claimed incidents made clear that a branch of the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has formed an alliance with

Hafeez Pandrani: the Man Behind the Emerging Insurgency in Sindh

Pakistan’s southern province Sindh has been a hotbed of terrorist activities since the 1980s and Karachi, the capital of the province and financial capital of Pakistan, has been considered to

The Arrest of Asif Choto: A Serious Blow to Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

Islamist terrorist organizations in Pakistan have not been very successful in recruiting rank and file from Karachi. The city developed a culture somewhat resistant to their influence, which is demonstrated

Karachi’s Security Crackdown a Boost for Pakistan’s Islamists

Political violence and gang wars in Karachi have remained a critical issue for the Pakistani authorities over the years. The situation even became an agenda item in the country’s National

Qari Abdul Rauf Asghar: The New Face of Jaish-e-Mohammad

The resurgence of the Islamist-Kashmiri terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) with the Pathan Kot Air Force Base attack in January 2016 was indeed disquieting. Seven security personnel and all five attackers

The South Asian Televangelism Network of Salafist Preacher Dr. Zakir Naik

Farhan Zahid Few Islamist televangelists in South Asia have achieved the momentous success that Indian Salafist preacher Dr. Zakir Naik has in such short span of time. In fact, there

Pakistan’s LeJ Baluchistan Operations Ready for Resurgence

Sectarian violence in Pakistan’s troubled Baluchistan province dropped dramatically with the death of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s (LeJ) leader Usman Saifullah Kurd in 2015. Attacks, however, have continued under the group’s new leader,

Naeem Bokhari: Military Mastermind of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

Farhan Zahid This past February, the Karachi police and the Sindh Rangers, a Pakistani paramilitary force, foiled a terrorist plot to stage a massive jailbreak in southeast Pakistan. The operation,

The Zainabiyoun Brigade: A Pakistani Shiite Militia Amid the Syrian Conflict

Since the outbreak of Syrian Civil War in 2011, a plethora of violent Islamist groups have surfaced in various parts of the country, some fighting for the Syrian regime of

Pakistan Battles a Resurgent Hizb ut Tahrir

A series of raids by Pakistani counterterrorism forces in recent months has resulted in the arrest of several members of Hizb ut Tahrir (HuT). The group remains an insidious threat

Pakistan’s Militant Conspiracy Theorist: Zaid Hamid

Farhan Zahid According to a 2014 Pew Poll, a mere 14 percent of Pakistanis have favorable views of the United States (Pew Poll, July 2014). There may be other reasons

Growing Evidence of Islamic State in Pakistan

After months of denying the Islamic State’s presence in Pakistan, the Pakistani government has finally acknowledged that the terrorist network, both as an inspiration and an organized group, is fast

The Pakistani Taliban after the Peshawar School Attack

The dramatic December 16 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar by the Fazlullah faction of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP-F) brought renewed global attention to the TTP, a grouping of

Lashkar-e-Zil: Al-Qaeda’s ‘Shock and Awe’ Force

One effect of the rise of the Islamic State organization is that its rival al-Qaeda has had to try harder to attract global attention, funding, and recruits. The establishment of

Pakistan’s Prison Break Expert: A Profile of Adnan Rashid and His Group Ansar al-Aseer

Few people in the Pakistani jihadist scene have managed to ascend in the jihadist ranks as quickly as Adnan Rashid. A former professional airman who served in the Pakistan Air

Al-Qaeda’s Future in Pakistan Amid the Rise of Islamic State

Al-Qaeda appears to be on the back foot globally. The Islamic State organization, previously the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and years before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, is

The Terrorist Next Door: Pakistan’s Hammad Adil

Early on August 30, 2013, a large contingent of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Islamabad’s Capital Territory Police along with officials from intelligence agencies, the Special Branch and Criminal Investigations Departments,

The Caliphate in South Asia: A Profile of Hizb-ut Tahrir in Pakistan

Unlike other radical Islamist organizations in Pakistan, the Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT – Party of Freedom) takes a covert approach to disseminating its Islamist ideology and agendas. The organization is so

Turkey Faces Security Challenges and Political Dilemmas in the Syrian Conflict

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalk?nma Partisi - AKP) is experiencing political stalemate as a consequence of its support for armed Islamist terrorist groups in the Syria.