Pakistan: Tablighi Jamaat's grip on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fuels concerns of radicalisation
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: The rise of the
Tablighi Jamaat
in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is sparking fears of cultural erosion and the steady grooming of recruits for radical movements.
As reported by Himal Southasian, many Pashtuns say the orthodox Deobandi missionary group is dismantling traditional practices while quietly laying the ideological groundwork for extremism.
In Bajaur district, a young resident told Himal Southasian that "men and women used to dress fashionably, enjoy music, watch television, visit shrines, and play sports without being judged." Today, he said, the Tablighi Jamaat's puritanical preaching has transformed local life.
Activities once central to Pashtun culture are now branded as sinful. "It has changed the cultural landscape drastically," he warned, noting that while the group does not directly preach violence, it produces "raw human resources that can be easily turned into jihadists.
"
Founded in colonial India in 1926, the Tablighi Jamaat is now a global organisation with millions of followers. In Pakistan, its headquarters in Raiwind, Punjab, commands vast influence.
According to Himal Southasian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become one of the movement's most fertile grounds, with the group leveraging its "quietist" image to avoid official scrutiny while embedding Deobandi orthodoxy deep into Pashtun society.
The group's impact is most visible in cultural change. Himal Southasian documents how shrines, folk music, mixed-gender dances, and colourful traditional clothing are being replaced by conservative dress codes and rigid segregation.
A North Waziristan academic described the Jamaat as "the root of evil... laying the ideological groundwork for the future Taliban" and importing an "Arab culture" that dismisses Pashtun identity.
While the Tablighi Jamaat insists it is apolitical and non-violent, Himal Southasian reports that it shares the sectarian orientation of groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Its close alignment with the Pakistan state's Islamisation project dates back to the 1980s, when military ruler Zia ul-Haq and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) used Deobandi networks - including Tablighi circles - to recruit Pashtun fighters for the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union.
Former ISI chief Javed Nasir was himself a Tablighi Jamaat member.
Critics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told Himal Southasian that the group's influence has depoliticised Pashtun communities, discouraging discussion of exploitation or military abuses. This ideological shift, they argue, suits the Pakistani establishment, which has long used Islam as a tool for domestic control and foreign policy. A Peshawar lecturer warned that "Tablighis are making our people orthodox, helping Islamist sectarian groups" and turning them away from Pashtun nationalism and resistance to militancy.
The group's gatherings draw hundreds of thousands annually to Raiwind and regional centres. A businessperson from Khyber district told Himal Southasian that almost every household in the tribal areas now has a member. The Jamaat's appeal as a "peaceful" alternative to militant brutality has made it a mass movement - but one that critics say nurtures a mindset receptive to Taliban influence.
Perhaps most troubling, Himal Southasian notes, is the way the Tablighi Jamaat erodes ethnic identity in favour of pan-Islamic loyalty.
This mirrors the Taliban's removal of Afghanistan's national flag in favour of the white shahada banner. "Extremism and war have taken away every good thing from us," a South Waziristan student lamented.
For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's embattled Pashtuns, the rise of the Tablighi Jamaat represents more than religious revival - it signals Pakistan's ongoing project to reshape a proud, distinct culture into a pliant tool for its Islamist and geopolitical ambitions. As Himal Southasian's reporting makes clear, the consequences are already visible, and they reach far beyond the mosque walls.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
How Bangladesh is slipping back into Pakistan's grip
Half a century after losing the 1971 war, Pakistan is quietly creeping back into Bangladesh-not with tanks or troops, but through intelligence operatives, radical clerics, diplomatic manoeuvres, and a rising tide of Islamist is not an invasion. It is infiltration. And it is happening in plain sight. A Manufactured UprisingThe protests that shook Bangladesh earlier this year were framed as a grassroots revolt over job quotas — the cry of a generation locked out of opportunity. Years of political repression, economic inequality, and public frustration gave the unrest legitimacy. Yet beneath the surface lay the fingerprints of slogans mirrored radical Islamist narratives. The timing was too precise. The organisation too perfect. Behind it was Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. Behind them — Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly with discreet Western Fall of Sheikh HasinaFor over a decade, Sheikh Hasina kept Bangladesh stable through terrorism threats, coup attempts, and a war on extremism. She defied Pakistan, challenged Islamists, and resisted China's unchecked influence. In doing so, she earned enemies in Islamabad, Beijing-and, increasingly, President Biden, US–Bangladesh relations soured over allegations of democratic backsliding and human rights abuses. Reports surfaced of US-backed pressure campaigns-funding opposition voices, sanctioning Hasina's allies, and mobilising diplomatic influence. The quota protests proved the tipping point. Over 1,400 deaths later, Hasina was forced Muhammad YunusInto the vacuum stepped Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus-a celebrated figure abroad but far less respected domestically. Under Yunus, Jamaat-e-Islami was quietly rehabilitated. Radical networks once suppressed began operating openly. Groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, and Ansarullah Bangla Team 21 January 2025, Major General Shahid Amir Afsar of the ISI arrived in Dhaka under the guise of medical cooperation. In reality, he met Paresh Barua, leader of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)-a separatist insurgency targeting India's the Eastern CorridorULFA offers Pakistan a backdoor into India. Coupled with Islamist mobilisation in Bangladesh, Rohingya youth recruitment, and terror logistics via JMB, the ISI is constructing a familiar insurgency blueprint-refined in Afghanistan and Kashmir-but this time aimed squarely at India's eastern role is equally significant. Under Hasina, Beijing's influence over ports, infrastructure, and energy was balanced. Under Yunus, it is growing unchecked. Together, China and Pakistan are forging a corridor of influence from Gwadar to Cox's Bazar, leveraging insurgent groups in Myanmar's Rakhine State to secure strategic trade Shrinking Strategic DepthWith Hasina gone, India's secure eastern flank is eroding. Infiltration from Bangladesh is rising. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reports increased chatter between ISI handlers and sleeper cells in West Bengal. Assam Police have intercepted multiple JMB-linked operatives in recent United States, now under Donald Trump, shows little inclination to intervene. Trump's transactional foreign policy prioritises deals with Islamabad over Delhi's security concerns, especially if Pakistan can offer leverage in Afghanistan or against China in and Ideological RecolonisationUnder Yunus, Bangladesh's economy is faltering. Garment exports are collapsing as Western buyers withdraw, with Chinese firms moving in to fill the gap. This economic dependency risks turning Bangladesh into a client radical sermons are returning to mosques, Islamist student groups are re-establishing themselves on campuses, and extremist recruitment among Rohingya refugees is accelerating. Analysts warn of an 'East Pakistan 2.0'-not born of military conquest, but of ideological infiltration and economic Clock is TickingPakistan has refused Yunus's demands for 1971 reparations and instead offers deepening cooperation-direct flights, military exchanges, visa-free business travel, and port partnerships. It is a textbook case of soft annexation, and the Bangladeshi leadership appears unwilling or unable to India, the threat is immediate. The longer Dhaka drifts into Islamabad's and Beijing's orbit, the harder it will be to reverse. Border security will be tested. Sleeper cells will awaken. And the possibility of another 2008-style attack-or worse-will was a rejection of Pakistan's religious nationalism in favour of linguistic and cultural identity. If Bangladesh forgets why it fought for its independence, that hard-won freedom could quietly be undone-replaced not by foreign flags, but by foreign control.- Ends
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Many countries disappointed over plastics treaty draft, which omits production curbs
On the penultimate day of countries being expected to finalise a treaty on plastic pollution, a majority of countries expressed their disappointment with a draft agreement, which does away with a key demand of countries agreeing to limit the production of plastics. This version however favours a minority block, which includes several Arab states and India, that has consistently advocated for addressing plastic pollution without such cuts on production. 'This represents my best attempts to consolidate various positions that have been expressed through various delegations and groups,' said Chair of proceedings Luis Vayas Valdivieso. 'This is however still a proposal that can be discussed.' Kuwait has made a statement that is largely approving of the text. Naresh Gangwar, who led the Indian delegation said, 'We support the statement made by Kuwait. While there are some improvements that we can suggest we are happy to discuss this.' 'The proposed draft text is entirely unacceptable and we cannot use it as a basis for negotiations,' said Sebastian Rodriguez, the delegate from Colombia who was the first to speak but whose statement received resounding applause. 'Our red lines and that of the majority of the members of this hall have been spat upon. This is not simply about closing a treaty at any cost but about closing a wound that has hurt our oceans and our livelihood. We need a new text. This is something that we cannot work with,' said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, the delegate from Panama. About 80 member states expressed their disapproval on these lines. 'This text is a milestone that demands some reflection. However there are points that we need some balance between various articles in the text,' said Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz, the delegate from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His remarks invited a measure of applause from petrochemical countries and from the members of the Indian delegation. 'Life-cycle of plastics not addressed' Independent observers expressed disappointment. 'The Chair's text that dropped today in advance of the plenary is disappointing. The text does not fulfil the mandate of resolution 5/14 as it does not address the full life-cycle of plastics. Chemicals of Concern also does not find place in the text. There is also no attempt made to reduce plastic dependency through mandating reuse and refill systems. This text is lopsided and will do nothing, even at the level of downstream waste management to address plastic pollution. There will be serious implications on global economy, environment, climate and health,' said Swathi Seshadri, petrochemicals specialist, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). 'The new Chair's text makes a mockery of a three-year-long consultative process that showed broad support for an ambitious plastics treaty that addresses the full life-cycle of plastics, including production. While there are token references to human rights, and human health, the provisions that follow undermine any and all measures that follow. This is a treaty that all but ensures that nothing will change. It gives in to petrostate and industry demands with weak, voluntary measures that guarantee we continue to produce plastic at increasing levels... It will be very difficult to come back from this, and we encourage member states to reject the text,' said David Azoulay, Centre for International Environmental Law.
India.com
4 hours ago
- India.com
Balochistan people are not terrorists...: Baloch leader slams US over BLA terror designation, warns not to trust Pak Army chief Munir because...
Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch (L) slammed the US for designating the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organization. (File) Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch lashed out at the United States for designating the Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist organization, asserting that the people of Balochistan are not terrorists, but victims of Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits that have brutalized the region at Islamabad's behest. What did Mir Yar Baloch say? In a post on X, Mir Yar Baloch warned the US against trusting Pakistan, stating the Balochistan rebel movement has had good faith towards the US, while Islamabad has historically been a backstabber who sheltered America's enemies, including Osama bin Laden. 'The people of Balochistan are not terrorists. They are a nation that has suffered 78 years of state terrorism, economic plunder, radioactive poisoning caused by Pakistan's nuclear tests, foreign invasion and occupation by Pakistan's extremist and artificial state,' he wrote. Mir Yar said that Baloch people have been victimized by the IS-Khorasan, an offshoot of the notorious Islamic State terror group allegedly sponsored by Pakistan's ISI and deep state. 'IS-K is a branch of the terrorist organization ISIS, which is being allowed to flourish by Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI,' he alleged, adding that the group recently issued a fatwa (decree) calling for violence against Baloch political activists. 'Baloch are friends of US' The Baloch leader accused Islamabad of supporting radical armed groups to 'crush legitimate political voices, stifle democratic aspirations, and destabilize the region'. 'Throughout history, the Baloch people have shown unwavering goodwill towards the US, and never took up arms against any side, even during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan,' he said. Showcasing Baloch people as US-friendly, Mir Yar noted there wasn't a single attack on US personnel or convoys by Baloch fighters or civilians, when NATO supply lines passed through Balochistan after 9/11. 'In contrast, the Pakistan Army and the ISI orchestrated anti-US rallies during the time,' he alleged. Why Mir Yar cautioned US against trusting Pakistan? Meanwhile, the Baloch leader also cautioned the US against trusting Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, reminding Washington about Islamabad's betrayal when it sheltered Osama bin Laden, who lived in Pakistan's Abbottabad for nearly a decade under the protection of the Pakistani army. 'Pakistani leaders have admitted to waging a fake jihad against US interests, betraying allies and promoting extremism. Yet, these same extremists are being described as 'strategic partners', while the real owners of the land in resource-rich Balochistan are being defamed as terrorists,' he said. Mir urged the US to recognize Balochistan as an independent, sovereign nation, asserting that it would give the US a liberal and stable ally in the region, who is rooted in democratic values. The Baloch leader's comments came after the US on Monday designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a foreign terrorist organization for carrying terror attacks, including the recent train hijacking, in Pakistan. The US on Monday designated the BLA in the list of foreign terrorist organizations. It has been put on the list of terrorist attacks for carrying out train hijacking and many other attacks in Pakistan recently.
