ISIS Efforts to Gain Foothold in Pakistan Alarms Interior Ministry

The Ministry of the Interior of Pakistan has announced concerns over ISIS's efforts to establish a foothold in the country.

Amidst increasing activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the ministry warns that ISIS is looking to heighten tensions through terrorist acts targeting Shiites and religious minorities.

The ministry highlighted its proactive measures in monitoring cyberspace to dismantle online extremist networks. In 2022 alone, it received 16,522 complaints to block radical, sectarian, anti-state, and terrorist content on social networks.

Additionally, the Ministry linked the surge in organised attacks by TTP to the 2022 peace negotiations between the Pakistani government and extremist militants. Despite the completion of fencing along Pakistan's western border, Taliban and ISIS members continue to damage the barriers to infiltrate Pakistan.

Pakistani officials have noted that the ceasefire between the government and TTP has inadvertently aided terrorist groups. The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan is also cited as a factor in the increased militant activities in the region.

TTP militants have been orchestrating attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan provinces. A recent attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulted in the deaths of at least 23 soldiers and injured over 30.