RAWALPINDI: Security forces in Pakistan have released details of a confessional video statement made by a captured Khawarij militant identified as Umar Din alias Jazba, in which he has made several claims exposing the structure and activities of the group referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij.”
According to the video statement, Umar Din said he joined the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in January 2025 after a personal dispute with his father. He further claimed that he received training in Afghanistan alongside other members of the group.
He alleged that there are around 60 to 70 Afghan individuals associated with different commanders within the network, and that training facilities are based across the border.
Claims of Attacks and Criminal Activities
The khawarij militant stated that the group was involved in several violent incidents, including an attack on a police base in Shadikhel and an explosion on the Kotah Khwar Road, in which seven police personnel were killed during Ramadan.
He also alleged that members of the group are involved in drug abuse, illegal activities within their camps, and other criminal conduct.
Umar Din further claimed that some Khawarij commanders are involved in immoral activities and that the group finances its operations through contacts based in Afghanistan.
Allegations of Extortion and Kidnapping
In his statement, he accused the network of involvement in extortion, vehicle theft, and kidnappings for ransom. He said individuals are misled in the name of “Sharia implementation” and “jihad” to recruit young people from Pakistan.
He also urged youth to stay away from such organizations, calling their narratives misleading.
Background and Expert Views
Experts, as cited in the report, say the confessional statement reflects how such networks allegedly misguide young individuals and recruit them into militant activities.
They added that such groups are primarily driven by objectives including destabilization, extortion, drug-related crime, and other illegal operations to advance their agenda.
