The Zainabiyoun Threat
The word “Zainabiyoun” recently made it to social media during the conflict in Kurram, with both warring tribes accusing each other of ties to various terrorist organizations. Among the heated virtual debates, the name “Zainabiyoun Brigade” frequently echoed.
Upon the research, I found that this is an Iran-backed terrorist organization which has been active in the Syrian war. Pakistan has officially listed this group among banned organizations through NACTA, placing it at the 79th position in the list of proscribed outfits. Notably, the group is said to consist mainly of Pakistani nationals.
Farhan Zahid wrote to the James Town Foundation that those recruited were offered $1200 in salary with 15 days holiday after three months. Express Tribune notes in an article that most recruits were from Pashtoon town “Parachinar”. Recently, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi appeared in a video, stating that the government had reports of international involvement and provision of weapons in Kurram. The locals however denied any such involvement in any organization.
In addition, several social media accounts associated with the Zainabiyoun Brigade, run by self-proclaimed local commanders, openly support the group’s ideology.
A recent video showed an attempted arrest of a local figure named Mashhod, who was allegedly linked to the Zainabiyoun Brigade, which sparked significant protests in Parachinar. It shows that the organization may have a deep emotional connection with the local population. If this is the case the organization is more potent than other terrorist organizations because this enjoys public legitimacy.
The imperative is that the government should work against all terrorist organizations with the same yardstick regardless of their associations.
Admin at The Pakistan Gazette