Generation Jihad Wheel of Jihad
Oct 22, 2025
Tom Joscelyn, a senior fellow and expert in terrorism, joins Bill Roggio to unpack the explosive dynamics between the Taliban and Pakistan. They discuss the rise of the TTP's insurgency, leading to renewed violence and the implications of a recent ceasefire. Tom reveals the TTP's aims for an Islamic Emirate, while the duo debates Pakistan's historical support of jihadist groups and the influence of military factions. Their insights illuminate a precarious situation, with potential wildcards like al-Qaeda posing further risks.
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TTP Is Rising But Not Yet At Peak Insurgency
- The TTP insurgency in Pakistan is resurging with attacks on troops and installations but has not yet reached its 2006–2013 peak territorial control.
- Bill Roggio warns current violence looks like the prelude to a larger insurgency if trends continue.
Good/Bad Taliban Distinction Is False
- The Afghan Taliban shelters and materially supports the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), erasing the “good Taliban/bad Taliban” distinction.
- Tom Joscelyn cites UN reporting that the TTP receives significant logistical and operational support from Afghanistan's de facto authorities.
Al-Qaeda, Taliban, And TTP Operate As A Network
- Al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban, and the TTP maintain overlapping training, leadership, and ideology across borders.
- Joscelyn and Roggio emphasize that these groups functionally reinforce one another to pursue emirates and broader jihadist goals.
