The unfortunate terrorist incident that struck Quetta on 25th May once again highlights the alarming security situation in Pakistan, particularly in the KP and Balochistan region. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 report published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) ranks Pakistan as the country most affected by terrorist incidents. The report cites Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the deadliest group in Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as the second most active group. The growing nexus between the two is a matter of grave concern as it has serious security implications for the state of Pakistan.
The two groups do not share any ideological link: TTP is an Islamist militant organisation with an objective to impose its misinterpreted version of Shariah, while BLA is an ethno-nationalist insurgent group that ostensibly claims to fight for Baloch rights. However, given the potential operational gains achievable through their collusion, both groups decided to trade off their ideology. Reports highlight that Al-Qaeda not only played a crucial role in brokering trust between these ideologically distinct organisations but also provided advanced training to these groups.
The convergence of Al-Qaeda, TTP, BLA, and other militant actors marks a dangerous phase in Pakistan’s security landscape.
The United Nations Security Council Monitoring report revealed that four BLA-TTP shared training and facilitation camps exist in southern Afghanistan, particularly in the Walikot and Shorabak districts. These joint training centres are actively used for weapons handling, explosives training, small-unit tactics, and cross-border logistics coordination.
Additionally, the TTP also conducted direct exercises for BLA in January 2025 within Balochistan, which focused on coordinated attack timing, diversionary tactics to overstretch security forces, safe-house management, and post-attack withdrawal. The statement issued by the apprehended TTP commander Nasrullah aka Maulvi Mansoor further substantiates these revelations.
Nasrullah, who had been a member of TTP since 2007 and was working as an “emir” in the TTP’s defence commission since 2023, revealed a plan during interrogation, which was made in connivance with BLA Majeed Brigade commander Bashir Zeb, regarding Nasrullah’s movement from Afghanistan to Southern Balochistan via Spin Boldak.
TTP and Al-Qaeda’s collaboration is not limited to BLA: recent reports suggest the expansion of TTP and Al-Qaeda’s support to other Baloch insurgent groups as well.
For instance, Rahima Bibi, resident of Dalbandin, revealed in her confessions video statement how her husband facilitated a BLF-linked female suicide bomber, Zarina Rafiq, who stayed at their residence before being sent to Afghanistan for training and later executed an attack on a Frontier Corps camp in November, 2025. This also suggests an increasing trend of exploiting women for nefarious objectives and also indicates a clear shift in the operational tactics of militants.
The collaboration between Baloch militants and TTP has also given insurgents unrestricted access to a massive cache of weaponry left behind by the U.S forces in Afghanistan, bolstering the groups’ firepower. As of June 2025, the security forces had recovered 272 US-made rifles and 33 night vision devices from BLA militants. As per the reports, militants pair night vision and thermal equipment with small drones to attack troops with more precision. Besides TTP, BLA is also reportedly collaborating with IS-K and East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The convergence of Al-Qaeda, TTP, BLA, and other militant actors marks a dangerous phase in Pakistan’s security landscape. Their growing cooperation, enhanced capabilities, and expanding operational networks demand a robust and coordinated national response.
The writer is a freelance columnist.