From Foreign Backing to Brutality FAK’s Reality Revealed
They cloak themselves in the language of faith, but their acts betray only violence and chaos. FAK is not a voice of insurgency nor a movement of justice. It is a declared terrorist organization, recognized by the United Nations and major global powers including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Its leader, Noor Wali Mehsud, bears the same designation. These facts alone dismantle any narrative that seeks to reframe FAK as an indigenous insurgency or a political grievance movement. The reality is clear and undisputed—FAK is a terrorist group, and its actions confirm this without exception.
Despite sustained efforts by hostile forces to blur these lines, the perception battle is being decisively won by the truth. Pakistan’s strategic communication has remained consistent and firm—FAK is not a group seeking rights; it is a foreign-sponsored proxy undermining national security and regional peace. Any attempt to present FAK as an insurgent force fighting for a cause is not only misleading but dangerously detached from facts. This deliberate mischaracterization attempts to obscure the group’s criminal, ideological, and tactical ties to global jihadist networks and malign foreign actors.
At its ideological core, FAK operates in defiance of Islam itself. Its members claim to fight in the name of religion while grossly violating the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. Their campaign of violence against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has no religious sanction. Suicide attacks, assaults on mosques, murders of scholars, and targeting sacred days have earned them unanimous rejection from Pakistan’s religious leadership through comprehensive Fatwas. These actions expose FAK as Khawarij—a deviant offshoot misusing Islam to cloak their ambitions for power and terror.
In the societal domain, FAK stands as an enemy of peace and development. It has consistently targeted civilian lives, critical infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and communication networks. Their attacks are designed to sow fear, destabilize society, and prevent the regions they infiltrate from progressing. By disrupting national days and symbols of collective identity, they aim to fracture the unity and spirit of the people. Their violence isn’t accidental—it is strategic and anti-people at its core.
The moral depravity of FAK is equally alarming. Behind their claims of righteousness lies a web of criminal activity: extortion, abductions for ransom, forced recruitment, and horrific cases of sexual exploitation, particularly of young boys. These acts further delegitimize the group’s standing and reflect its operational culture rooted in coercion, cruelty, and lawlessness. No ideological cause can justify these transgressions; they are, at best, the work of a syndicate dressed in theological garb.
FAK is not just a domestic threat—it operates as an extension of foreign intelligence networks, notably India’s RAW and Afghanistan’s GDI. Their symbiotic relationship with ISKP—another declared terrorist entity—exposes their role as mercenaries of proxy warfare. They function from operational and logistical bases in Afghanistan, receive support, training, and ideological mentorship from international terrorist organizations, and maintain close ties with local Taliban elements. The Afghan soil has been transformed into a breeding ground for these militants, with IAG support facilitating their cross-border movement and planning.
This continued support and tolerance of FAK on Afghan territory is a blatant violation of the Doha Agreement. The international community’s understanding of peace in the region was predicated on the promise that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism. That promise is broken each time FAK militants cross into Pakistan or receive foreign training under IAG’s watchful eye. Several of FAK’s top commanders have been neutralized in Afghanistan, further proving the depth of their footprint there. This isn’t just Pakistan’s concern anymore—it is a threat to regional and global peace.
FAK’s media operations reveal another front in its campaign of terror. Through propaganda, online indoctrination, and the misuse of religious texts, they attract and exploit vulnerable youth. These digital networks are managed in collaboration with AQIS and supported by external actors. Their messaging glorifies violence, spreads disinformation, and fuels anti-state sentiment—all with the aim of eroding social cohesion and state authority.
Pakistan, however, remains steadfast in its commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms. The state’s policy of zero tolerance against terrorist groups has translated into extensive operations, intelligence successes, and sacrifices by law enforcement agencies. These efforts have not only dismantled FAK’s domestic networks but have also highlighted the resolve of the Pakistani state to protect its people and its soil.
The narrative is not one of ambiguity. FAK is not an insurgency. It is not a movement of justice. It is a terrorist group operating with foreign support, masking its crimes with religion, and targeting a nation committed to peace. Recognizing this reality is not just a matter of national interest—it is a collective global imperative.
