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Presence of TTP militants has turned this key economic corridor into a battleground, forcing Pakistan to allocate troops away from its conventional fronts to guard CPEC projects
Pakistan’s strategic vulnerability has been exposed by the TTP’s ability to operate with impunity from within Afghan territory, a situation exacerbated by the Afghan Taliban’s refusal to act against the group. Representational image/AFP
An ongoing confrontation between the Pakistan army and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters on the crucial CPEC Islamabad–DI Khan (M-14) route highlights Pakistan’s dual crisis of internal militancy and over-dependence on China. The presence of TTP militants has turned this key economic corridor into a battleground, forcing Pakistan to allocate troops away from its conventional fronts in order to protect CPEC projects.
News18 has accessed exclusive videos showing TTP militants operating and dancing with weapons in the key tribal belts through which the CPEC route passes, a clear sign of their growing confidence and operational control in these areas. This resurgence has been fuelled by a safe haven and ideological guidance provided by al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, which TTP cadres are allegedly utilising for sanctuary, logistics, and training.
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Pakistan’s strategic vulnerability has been exposed by the TTP’s ability to operate with impunity from within Afghan territory, a situation exacerbated by the Afghan Taliban’s refusal to act against the group. This has severely strained Pakistan-Afghan relations and limited Islamabad’s options for a decisive military response.
Beyond the military confrontation, the TTP is also actively engaging in a campaign of economic warfare. Reports indicate that the group is extorting money from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) contractors, demanding a 5% “tax” and threatening workers, machinery, and construction sites. This has added a layer of financial pressure and security risk to the already complex projects.
For China, the security situation is a growing concern. The CPEC projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are high-value targets, and a number of attacks on Chinese engineers, including the deadly Dasu hydropower project incident, have prompted China to express repeated concern. Sources indicate that China’s security stake in the project is rising, leading it to deploy private security personnel, as a full dependence on the Pakistan army for protection is deemed too risky. For Pakistan, losing operational control in these vital tribal belts has exposed its strategic vulnerability and underscored the fact that its counter-terrorism operations remain incomplete.
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Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
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