Jamaat-ul-Ahrar

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is a militant Islamist group that split away from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in August 2014.

Roots and development
In September 2014, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah ousted Mohmand Agency chief Omar Khalid Khorasani (former leader of Ahrar-ul-Hind). Omar Khalid Khorasani and his associates in Mohmand Agency had accused the TTP leadership of deviating from the TTP ideology, leading to the formation of splinter group TTP Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is now effectively divided into three factions. The original TTP is headed by Maulana Fazlullah, who was elected last November following the killing of ex-chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a U.S. drone strike. In February, Ahrar-ul-Hind, headed by Maulana Umar Qasmi (former leader in the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi) was formed after TTP opened peace talks with the Pakistani government. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is the second splinter group to break away from the Tehreek-i-Taliban in Pakistan on September 4, 2014 and named Omar Khalid Khorasani as its commander.

Relations with TTP
The group had announced they would no longer recognise or obey Mullah Fazlullah as their Emir.

Leaders
Current
 * Omar Khalid Khorasani (aka Abdul Wali)- previously led a faction called Ahrar-ul-Hind, which claimed several attacks during a ceasefire period between the government and Taliban earlier this year, including an attack on Islamabad court complex that killed 12 people. He is also of the founding members of the TTP and is a former journalist from Mohmand agency.

Spokesmen
Current
 * Ehsanullah Ehsan

Operation Khyber-1
On November 9, least 13 militants were killed in security forces' offensive in Akakhel which included among the dead two suicide bombers and a key commander. Ehsan confirmed that their key commander Abu Jandal was killed during the Nov 9 bombing in Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley.

Claimed and alleged attacks

 * On 2 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the Wagah border attack in a telephone call to Dawn from Afghanistan. "Some other groups have claimed responsibility of this attack, but these claims are baseless. We will soon release the video of this attack," he said. "This attack is revenge for the killing of innocent people in North Waziristan."


 * On 7 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for twin bombings that killed at least six people in Mohmand Agency. The bombs targeted peace committee volunteers in Chinari village of Safi Tehsil. Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility and vowed to continue attacking tribal peace committees.


 * On 21 November 2014, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for a gernade attack on the membership camp of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Orangi Town area of Karachi. Three members of the Sindh Assembly and 50 workers were injured.