Stories by Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud

The author is an Islamabad-based Journalist with over a decade of experience in print, online and television journalism. He extensively covers militancy, Jihadist movements and other related security issues in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. He is the co-founder and Director News at The Khorasan Diary.

More than two decades after 9/11, Al Qaeda hasn’t vanished; it has adapted

Al Qaeda has persisted by adopting a key strategy: evolving from a hierarchical, centralised organisational structure to a decentralised network of franchises. Updated 18 Nov, 2025 05:44pm

MILITANCY: THE NEW FACE OF AL QAEDA

More than two decades after 9/11, Al Qaeda hasn’t vanished — it’s adapted. Updated 18 Nov, 2025 05:44pm

Digital battlefield: Militants vs the state in the war of narratives

Militants are outpacing the state by turning gaming apps, social media, and AI into weapons of propaganda and recruitment, proving the war of narratives is as decisive as the war on the ground. Published 23 Sep, 2025 01:11pm

Under the veil: What’s behind Kabul’s incremental approach to stricter laws

After the sudden shift to Sharia law under the first Taliban regime was met with Western backlash, Afghanistan’s rulers are now moving gradually to tighten their hold. Published 25 Sep, 2024 10:22am

What’s behind Kabul’s ‘incremental approach’ to stricter laws

AFTER an Afghan envoy to Pakistan sparked controversy by remaining seated while the host nation’s national anthem... Published 25 Sep, 2024 08:13am

From territorial to virtual: Is ISKP the next Al Qaeda?

The Islamic State's most lethal province utilises encrypted communication channels for planning attacks, with almost minimal physical interaction. Published 27 Jun, 2024 11:55am

The attacks in DI Khan are a sign of times to come if Pakistan doesn’t fix its act soon

Despite years of immense sacrifices, the genie of militancy has once again emerged from the bottle, this time armed with advanced weaponry and tactics, posing a formidable challenge. Updated 13 Dec, 2023 04:02pm

The resurrection of the TTP

The threat of religious militancy is not going away any time soon; expecting a two-decade long conflict to be fixed with interventions spanning weeks or months is somewhat delusional. Updated 20 Nov, 2025 01:02pm

Analysis: How TTP’s resurgence came to pass

The spiritual link between the Islamic Emirate and the banned TTP has been a key factor in the latter’s ability to... Published 10 Jul, 2023 07:13am