Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan

Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan
Leader
Hafiz Gul Bahadur[1]
SpokespersonMahmood ul-Hasan
FoundedApril 11, 2025
Merger of Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group
Lashkar-e-Islam
Harakat-e-Inqilab-e-Islami
al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (suspected)
CountryPakistan
Active regionsKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
IdeologyJihadism
Islamism
Pashtunwali
Size500 (2025)
700 (2026)
WarsInsurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war

Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP,Urdu: اتحاد المجاہدین پاکستان, lit. 'United Warriors of Pakistan') is a Pakistani alliance of Islamist militant groups operating in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Groups that joined the alliance include; Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-e-Islam and Harakat-e-Inqilab-e-Islami.[2]

The formation of the alliance was announced on April 11, 2025, by media wings of all three groups. IMP described itself as an "unified front" for “elevating the word of Allah".[3] The alliance said its factions are splinter groups of Pakistani Taliban movement.[4] The coalition was established under the leadership of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, head of a Pakistani Taliban faction.[5]

History

Precursor of IMP, a group called “Ittihadul Mujahideen”, was founded in 2004 as an alliance of small militant groups such as Akhtar Khalil, it was led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur. The alliance carried out armed attacks North Waziristan. Akhtar Khalil later joined Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan while smaller groups in the alliance merged with Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group.[6]

Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan was founded on April 11, 2025, its creation was announced by media wings of Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-e-Islam and Harakat-e-Inqilab-e-Islami. IMP said it would support the oppressed and wage jihad against the Pakistani government as an "unified front" for “elevating the word of Allah". IMP created its media wing, naming it “Sada-e-Ghazwat-ul-Hind” and assigned Mahmood ul-Hasan to be IMP's spokesperson.[3] IMP uses Twitter account "@Tarjuman_IMP" to make statements and threats, the account is operated by the spokesperson.[7] IMP also has a Telegram channel which they use to distribute propaganda videos in Pashto, Urdu and English.[8]

While the alliance did not officially reveal the name of its leader, Hafiz Gul Bahadur was widely regarded as instrumental in its formation among militant circles. Journalist Jawad Yousafzai speculated in April 2025 that Gul Bahadur will lead the group.[6] "The Khorasan Diary" news outlet stated that the IMP alliance was established under the leadership of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, head of a Pakistani Taliban faction.[9]

Between April 12 and 16, IMP claimed responsibility for armed attacks against Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan District and Tirah. The group conducted grenade attacks, rocket attacks as well as ambushes on convoys.[3] IMP, together with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan used anti-drone technology to counter aerial attacks from the government. Unlike the TTP, which preferred to keep its drone capabilities secret, IMP has publicly announced the use of explosive-laden quadcopters against government forces. The groups conducted a total of 405 attacks using quadcopters in 2025.[10]

The Pakistani government has accused IMP of being a front for TTP,[4] as well as Al-Qaeda.[11] A report from the United Nations said that IMP, along with other militant groups, operate out of Afganistan.[12]

In July 2025, a Lashkar-e-Islam source claimed that a Pakistani Taliban commander from South Waziristan, along with a group of militants led by an associate of the now-deceased former TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud joined IMP.[13] That same month, IMP released a report on its military activities, claiming the group had carried out 89 attacks in July 2025 that killed 88 and injured 15 security personnel. It also highlighted that its attacks are usually carried out by Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and Lashkar-e-Islam.[14] In February 2026, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent mentioned IMP in its infographic overviewing militant activity of Islamist groups. Analysts speculated that this suggests ideological or operational links between the two groups.[15]

Activities

2025

On April 25, 2025, Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan ambushed a station house officer's car in Bannu District using an IED, two officers were injured.[16] On September 4, 2025, IMP conducted a suicide attack against Federal Constabulary base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province using a vehicle carrying an IED. According to the government, the attack killed 6 officers, IMP claimed the attack killed 20 officers.[17]

In July 2025, IMP claimed to have conducted three quadcopter drone attacks on military facilities in Mir Ali and Bakka Khel.[7] On July 8, 2025, IMP announced its first joint attack with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Orakzai District. IMP reported that they destroyed a military vehicle and seized three G3 rifles and a light machine gun.[18] In October 2025, IMP claimed responsibility for armed attack on a checkpoint in Peshawar District that killed seven officers.[19] Pakistani police chief said that 6 suicide bombers were used for the attack, 13 officers were injured.[20] On October 15, 2025, IMP claimed responsibility for killing a police officer guarding polio vaccination workers in Nowshera District.[21]

2026

In January 2026, Pakistan conducted six drone strikes against IMP, killing 27 militants. Days later, IMP claimed to have stolen an anti-drone gun from security forces during clashes.[22] In February 2026, a team of Counter Terrorism Department officers who were transporting a prisoner were ambushed in Bannu District. During the gunfight, detained IMP commander Usama Daniyal Baghi was killed.[23] Baghi was accidentally killed by gunfire from the attackers trying to rescue him; no officers were injured.[24]

On February 22, 2026 IMP claimed responsibility for ambushing a military convoy. During the exchange, five IMP militants were killed. Commanding officer and a soldier were also killed after they were rammed by an IED-laden vehicle.[25]

On May 9, 2026, Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan conducted a suicide attack on military post in Bannu District, killing 14 and injuring 3 police officers. Several IED-laden vehicles and a suicide bomber were used for the attack.[26] Dawn reported that surrounding civilian areas suffered significant damage, 3 civilians were injured. A state of emergency was declared in Bannu hospitals.[27]

July 2026 proved to be the most lethal month for Pakistani security forces in nearly 10 years with 198 security forces killed. Most likely perperators being Pakistani Taliban and Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Intensify Attacks, Abide by Rules and Shun Foreign Fighters, Hafiz Gul Bahadur's Says in a Message". The Khorasan Diary. 8 January 2026. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026.
  2. ↑ Jadoon, Amira (6 October 2025). "Beyond Counterterrorism: A Legitimacy-Centered Framework for Pakistan's Security Crisis". Hudson Institute.
  3. 1 2 3 "Emergence of 'Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan': A New Militant Alliance Challenges TTP's Monopoly". Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. 9 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Pakistani Taliban splinter group claims suicide attack, 14 police dead". South China Morning Post. Associated Press. 10 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Intensify Attacks, Abide by Rules and Shun Foreign Fighters, Hafiz Gul Bahadur's Says in a Message". The Khorasan Diary. 8 January 2026. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 Yousafzai, Jawad (14 April 2025). "The Re-Birth of Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen: An Inside Pakistan's Latest Militant Alliance". Daily Times.
  7. 1 2 Khan, Ahmad (22 July 2025). "The IMP Network: Rise Of A Dangerous Militant Alliance And Its Global Threat". Eurasia Review.
  8. ↑ Shekhawat, Vikrant (11 May 2026). "New Terror Group 'Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen' Emerges in Pakistan, 15 Soldiers Killed in Bannu". Zoom News.
  9. ↑ "Intensify Attacks, Abide by Rules and Shun Foreign Fighters, Hafiz Gul Bahadur's Says in a Message". The Khorasan Diary. 8 January 2026. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Baloch, Imtiaz (23 January 2026). "From Defence to Offence: How Anti-Drone Technologies Are Empowering Militants in a New Era of Coordinated Drone Warfare". Global Network on Extremism and Technology.
  11. ↑ "A clear indictment". Dawn. 19 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "'Pakistan has right to defend its people'". The Express Tribune. 23 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Pakistan Conflict Tracker". Islamabad Policy Institute. 7 July 2025.
  14. ↑ "Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen attacks rise in July 2025". Oxus Watch. 3 August 2025. Archived from the original on 12 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Nexus Between AQIS and Banned Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen (IMP) Unveiled". HTN World. 16 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Incidents of IED Attacks: 2025". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  17. ↑ Jha, Raj (4 September 2025). "IuM-Pakistan claims suicide bomb attack on army convoy in KP". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257.
  18. ↑ "First joint attack by Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan". Oxus Watch. 10 July 2025. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Ceasefire Called After New Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes Kill Dozens". The Defense Post. Agence France-Presse. 16 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Terrorist attack on police center in Pakistan ends; 13 killed". Afghan Voice Agency. 11 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Second Pakistan policeman killed while guarding polio team in two days". IPOT News. Agence France-Presse. 15 October 2025.
  22. ↑ Rahimi, Laleh; Mon, Su; Chen, Vasan; Pandya, Pearl; Saleh, Mahmoud (13 January 2026). "Asia-Pacific Overview: January 2026". ACLED.
  23. ↑ "Key Militant Commander Killed in Bannu Ambush". Pakistan Today. 23 February 2025.
  24. ↑ Rahmati, Fidel (23 February 2026). "Pakistani Militant Commander Killed in Failed Rescue Attack". Khaama Press.
  25. ↑ Nazar, Nuzhat (22 February 2026). "Five terrorists killed; Lt Col, soldier embrace martyrdom in Bannu". Business Recorder.
  26. ↑ Khan and Munir, Riaz; Munir, Ahmed (10 May 2026). "Death toll rises to 14 in a Pakistan suicide attack claimed by a Pakistani Taliban splinter group". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  27. ↑ "Car bomb attack and ambush in northwest Pakistan kill at least 21 police". Al Jazeera. 9 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Tracker, Pakistani Casualty. "Pakistani Casualty Tracker". pakicasualtytracker.info. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
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