Formed: August 2014[1]

Disbanded: Group is active.

First Attack: November 2, 2014: JA conducted a suicide attack at the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan (61 killed, 150+ wounded).[2]

Last Attack: July 11, 2017: JA and the Islamic State claimed joint responsibility for an attack on the Pakistani police, during which Islamic gunmen killed a senior police official (4 killed, 0 wounded).[3]

Executive Summary

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JA) is a faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that temporarily splintered away in 2014. JA split from the TTP in August 2014, under the leadership of former TTP commander Omar Khalid Khorasani. This separation was a result of the growing tensions between Khorasani and the then leader of the TTP, Maulana Fazlullah. JA seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government, establish a global Islamic caliphate, and obtain Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. In 2015, JA realigned with TTP, while still maintaining autonomy to launch and claim attacks. The group has continued to launch attacks within Pakistan and Afghanistan and pledged allegiance to TTP in 2015 and IS-KP in 2014.

Group Narrative

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JA), translated as the “Assembly of the Free” splintered from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in August 2014, due to ideological disagreement between its leader, Omar Khalid Khorasani, and the then leader of the TTP, Maulana Fazlullah.  Khorasani disagreed with TTP’s decision to pursue peace talks with the Pakistani government, and criticized the TTP for straying from its original goal of establishing a global Islamic caliphate.[4] Therefore, Khorasani founded JA as a counter-umbrella organization to the TTP, which would aim to establish an Islamic state in Pakistan.[5]

In November 2014, JA conducted its first suicide bombing at the Wagah border outside of Lahore. The attack killed 61 people and injured more than 110. JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan asserted that the attack was an act of revenge for the Pakistani government’s "killing of innocent people in North Waziristan."[6] In response, the Pakistani military killed 13 JA fighters in aerial strikes in Khyber Agency.[7]

In March 2015, following a joint consultative meeting with Lashkar-e-Islam, JA announced that it would realign with the TTP, while working to reform the militant organization.[8] One key factor that contributed to the JA’s realignment with the TTP was the desire to present a unified front against the Pakistani military’s large and ongoing counter-terror offensive, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which began in June 2014.[9] However, despite the nominal reunification of the groups, JA continued to function with a large degree of autonomy, releasing independent statements on attacks, and issuing its own publications.[10]

In July 2016, Khorasani was reportedly killed by a U.S. airstrike in eastern Nangahar Province.[11] However, the reports were deemed false in 2017 after the group issued a press statement explicitly denying all reports of his death. Evidence of this has yet to be presented.[12] JA has continued to claim responsibility for large-scale suicide attacks, and still operates semi-autonomously in Pakistan.

In February 2017, JA launched Operation Ghazi in honor of Islamic fundamentalist Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was killed by Pakistani security forces in 2007 during the Siege of Lal Masjid. As part of this operation, JA issued a statement naming various targets in Pakistan. JA’s stated targets included the following entities: Pakistani security forces and intelligence services, all legislative bodies, the judiciary and its supporting institutions, secular political parties, interest-based economic institutions, constructive and welfare organizations, government or Western-influenced educational institutions, and liberal writers, leaders, and media figures. JA forbade operations in Islamic places of worship, such as mosques and schools, as well as in public gathering places, such as markets and playgrounds, regardless of the presence of enemy forces. The group also claimed that it would not attack public welfare spots or non-Muslim places of worship, unless they were used in a combat-capacity by enemy forces.[13] Despite these claims, on March 31, 2017, JA conducted a suicide bombing at a market in Parachinar, with the intended target of a women’s mosque.[14]

In 2018, the group has maintained a relatively low-profile but continues to carry out attacks within Pakistan and swears allegiance to the main TTP leadership. In addition, the group has conducted attacks in conjunction with IS-KP, which it pledged allegiance to in 2014.[15]

[1] Roggio, Bill. "Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar forms in northwestern Pakistan.” FDD's Long War Journal, 26 Aug. 2014, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/08/taliban_splinter_gro.php.

[2] Farooq, Umar, Zahir Sherazi, and Wasim Riaz. "TTP splinter groups claim Wagah attack; 60 dead.” Dawn, 3 Nov. 2014, https://www.dawn.com/news/1142006/ttp-splinter-groups-claim-wagah-attack-60-dead; “Tehrik-E Taliban Pakistan.” South Asia Terrorism Portal, n.d., http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/ttp.htm.

[3] Yousafzai, Gul. “Gunmen kill four police in Pakistani city of Quetta.” Reuters, 13 July, 2017, http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN19Y143-OCATP.

[4] Roggio, Bill. US State Department lists Jamaat-ul-Ahrar as terrorist group.” FDD’s Long War Journal, 3 Aug. 2016, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/08/us-state-department-lists-jamaat-ul-ahrar-as-terrorist-group.php;  Sherazi, Zahir Shah. "TTP Chief Mullah Fazlullah ousts Commander Umar Khorasani." Dawn, 7 Sept. 2014, https://www.dawn.com/news/1130446; Rana, Muhammad Amir. "Changing the militant landscape in Pakistan.” Geo TV, https://www.geo.tv/latest/131808-jamaat-ul-ahrar-a-new-militant-threat-in-pakistan.

[5] Roggio, Bill. "Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar forms in northwestern Pakistan.” Long War Journal, 26 Aug. 2014, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/08/taliban_splinter_gro.php.

[6] Farooq, Umar, Zahir Sherazi, and Wasim Riaz. "TTP splinter groups claim Wagah attack; 60 dead.” Dawn, 3 Nov. 2014, https://www.dawn.com/news/1142006/ttp-splinter-groups-claim-wagah-attack-60-dead.

[7] "Wagah attack suspects die in air strikes: Pakistan military.” Indo-Asian News Service, 12 Nov. 2014, www.india.com/news/world/wagah-attack-suspects-die-in-air-strikes-pakistan-military-191955/.

[8] Roggio, Bill. "Pakistani jihadist groups, Lashkar-i-Islam merge into the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.” Long War Journal, 12 Mar. 2015, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/03/pakistani-jihadist-groups-lashkar-i-islam-merge-into-the-movement-of-the-taliban-in-pakistan.php.

[9] “Pakistan's Jamaat-ul-Ahrar: A Violent Domestic Threat.” Jamestown Foundation: Terrorism Monitor, vol. 14, no. 18, 16 Sept. 2016, http://www.refworld.org/docid/57dffc514.html.

[10] Roggio, Bill, and Caleb Weiss. "Pakistani Taliban faction showcases training camp, suicide attacks.” Long War Journal, 2 Feb. 2017, www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/02/pakistani-taliban-faction-showcases-training-camp-suicide-attacks.php.

[11] Ahmad, Jibran. "Pakistan says leader of school attack killed in U.S. drone strike." Reuters. July 14, 2016. reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0ZT21O.

[12] Roggio, Bill. “Leader of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar emerges after reports of his death.” Long War Journal, 22 Oct. 2017. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/leader-of-jamaat-ul-ahr…

[13] “Strategic Code of Conduct for ‘Operation Ghazi,’” FATA Research Centre, 16 Feb. 2017, https://frc.org.pk/breaking/strategic-code-of-conduct-for-operation-ghazi/.

[14] Akbar, A. and Hassan Farhan. "22 killed in explosion outside imambargah in Parachinar market.” Dawn, 31 Mar. 2017, https://www.dawn.com/news/1323973/explosion-in-parachinar-market-5-killed.

[15] “Jaamat-ul-Ahrar/Jamatul Ahrar” Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium.

Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.

November 2, 2014: JA conducted a suicide attack at the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan (61 killed, 150+ wounded).[1]

December 29, 2015: JA conducted a vehicle-borne IED attack targeting a federal government office in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (26 killed, 50 wounded).[2]

March 7, 2016: JA conducted a suicide bombing attack at a court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (14 killed, 30 wounded).[3]

March 27, 2016: JA conducted a suicide bombing attack targeting the Christian minority population in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Lahore (72 killed, 300 wounded).[4]

August 8, 2016: JA and the Islamic State claimed joint responsibility for a suicide bombing targeting a hospital in the city of Quetta (70 killed, 120 wounded).[5]

September 16, 2016: JA conducted a suicide bombing attack targeting a mosque in the FATA (30 killed, 34 wounded).[6]

February 22, 2017: JA conducted a suicide bombing attack against Charsadda Court in Pakistan (7 killed, 22 wounded).[7]

March 31, 2017: JA conducted a suicide bombing attack at a market in Parachinar, which reportedly targeted a women’s mosque (22 killed, 57 wounded).[8] 

June 23, 2017: JA and the Islamic State claimed joint responsibility for a suicide car bombing outside the office of Balochistan’s police chief (13 killed, 20 wounded).[9]

July 11, 2017: JA and the Islamic State claimed joint responsibility for an attack on the Pakistani police, during which Islamic gunmen killed a senior police official (4 killed, 0 wounded).[10]

[1] Farooq, Umar, Zahir Sherazi, and Wasim Riaz. "TTP splinter groups claim Wagah attack; 60 dead.” Dawn, 3 Nov. 2014, https://www.dawn.com/news/1142006/ttp-splinter-groups-claim-wagah-attack-60-dead; “Tehrik-E Taliban Pakistan.” South Asia Terrorism Portal, n.d., http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/ttp.htm.

[2] Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, "Chapter 2. Country Reports: South and Central Asia Overview.” U.S. Department of State, 2015, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2015/257518.htm.

[3] "Pakistan bomb: Fourteen killed in Qadri 'revenge' attack.” BBC, 7 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35743295.

[4] "Lahore attack: Pakistan 'detains 200' after Easter blast.” BBC, 29 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35916578.

[5] "Quetta hospital bombing: Pakistan Taliban claim attack.” BBC, 8 Aug. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37015640.

[6] Akbar, Ali. "Curfew in Mohmand as suicide attack death toll rises to 30.” Dawn, 17 Sept. 2016, https://www.dawn.com/news/1284337.

[7] Muhammad, Faiz. "‘Uzbek’ militants storm court in Charsadda; seven killed.” Dawn, 22 Feb. 2017, https://www.dawn.com/news/1316234.

[8] Akbar, A. and Hassan Farhan. "22 killed in explosion outside imambargah in Parachinar market.” Dawn, 31 Mar. 2017, https://www.dawn.com/news/1323973/explosion-in-parachinar-market-5-killed.

[9] Mohammad Zafar, “Suicide car bombing kills 13 in Quetta.” The Express Tribune, 23 June, 2017, https://tribune.com.pk/story/1442639/5-killed-bomb-explosion-outside-igp-office-quetta/.

[10] Yousafzai, Gul. “Gunmen kill four police in Pakistani city of Quetta.” Reuters, 13 July, 2017, http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN19Y143-OCATP.