ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) poses a threat that extends well beyond Pakistan's borders, and the wider world should not wait for the terrorist group to become more dangerous before paying attention, Quincy Institute expert Adam Weinstein has said.
Speaking on Pakistan TV Digital's South Speaks with Saqib, Weinstein said the group's current focus on Pakistan should not be mistaken for a lack of broader ambition.
“TTP is being very careful right now, focused on Pakistan, hoping the rest of the world ignores it. The rest of the world shouldn't wait for TTP to become worse before it becomes concerned,” Weinstein said, describing the group as “very dangerous.”
TTP threat extends beyond Pakistan
Weinstein said instability caused by TTP terrorism inside Pakistan carries consequences that can spread across the region and eventually affect countries beyond South Asia.
“Terrorism that affects Pakistan tends not to stay within Pakistan. It tends to destabilise the region overall, and then that affects the rest of the world,” he said.
His comments come as Pakistan continues to emphasize the regional dimensions of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, particularly the threat posed by TTP. The group has carried out attacks inside Pakistan and remains a major security concern for Islamabad.
Weinstein noted that the United States and Pakistan maintained close counterterrorism cooperation against groups including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh-Khorasan Province, even during periods of disagreement over Afghanistan.
He said the same level of engagement should be applied to the TTP threat.
“I think it's a mistake to completely disengage when it comes to the issue of TTP,” he said.
Balochistan terrorism presents complex challenge
On the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Weinstein described the issue as serious and more complex, pointing to repeated attacks on the Jaffer Express and the risks faced by ordinary passengers traveling to Balochistan.
He also pointed to what he described as the group's links to India and disputes surrounding investment in Balochistan as factors adding further complexity to the security situation.
The BLA, a terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan, including attacks targeting security personnel and civilians.
Weinstein's comments placed the TTP and BLA threats within a broader discussion of Pakistan's internal security challenges and their potential regional consequences.
Economic ties with US
Weinstein also said Pakistan's economic relationship with the United States remains underappreciated compared with geopolitical developments that typically dominate headlines.
He pointed to Google's recent establishment of its first local office in Pakistan as an example of a development that could have greater long-term economic significance than some headline-grabbing diplomatic developments.
Google formally opened its first local office in Pakistan in August, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing the development as a milestone in the country's digital transformation. Google said it had been investing in and working with Pakistan for more than a decade.
Weinstein said such developments could prove more consequential over the long term than Pakistan's role in mediating during the Iran war, even if they receive less international attention.
Investment climate key to sustaining gains
Asked what Pakistan could do to sustain its recent diplomatic gains, Weinstein said the focus should shift toward strengthening the country's investment environment rather than relying primarily on geopolitics.
“What Pakistan can control is the investment climate within Pakistan, and making Pakistan look like a good long-term investment for the world,” he said.
He added that creating a stronger investment environment would also carry a political payoff for Pakistan.
The comments underscore the importance of economic stability and investor confidence alongside diplomatic engagement, particularly as Pakistan seeks to attract greater foreign investment and expand its technology and export sectors.
UN General Assembly diplomacy
Weinstein was speaking as the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly got underway in New York, with Pakistan's diplomatic engagement expected to remain a key focus in the days ahead.