Cracks within the militant edifice in Pakistan seem to be widening as the banned TTP and Jamaatul Ahrar, a splinter group that parted ways with the parent outfit recently, have been engaging in an intense war of words.

In a ‘charge sheet’ released on Thursday, Ehsanullah Ehsan, now the JA spokesman, claimed that “the killers” of some leading militants, as well as 200 Mehsud fighters, were “sitting beside” TTP supremo Mullah Fazlullah.

Also Read : TTP commanders form new splinter group 'Jamatul Ahrar'

Ehsan had more unkind words for the TTP chief, saying that Fazlullah lacked leadership qualities and that militants were fast abandoning the TTP ship being steered by him.

There seems to be some truth to Ehsan’s assertion about Fazlullah’s growing isolation as it appears that numerous militant factions from different parts of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are now gathering under the JA banner.

Also Rad : New TTP group 'Jamatul Ahrar' breaks away from Mullah Fazlullah

In fact, the Umar Khalid Khorasani-led group from Mohmand, which has thrown in its lot with the JA, has been active in launching terrorist attacks in recent weeks.

But the militant mudslinging has not been one-sided; earlier the Fazlullah-led TTP had poured scorn on JA’s fraternising with ‘suspicious’ groups and had criticised the new outfit for causing dissension within jihadist ranks.

Of course, in the murky world of militant politics, betrayal, power struggles and intrigues are not unknown. For example, there were some rumblings when Fazlullah took the TTP reins, while Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman had also reportedly locked horns at one time.

It is likely that the military operation in North Waziristan has aided in widening the militants’ internal split.

But the time to celebrate is not here yet as the militant threat has not dissipated; its nature has simply changed.

After all, it is entirely possible that breakaway factions will be even more ferocious than their mother outfit.

The security establishment will need to closely follow developments, keeping an eye specifically on Jamaatul Ahrar.

The state’s counterterrorism policy needs to be tailored in accordance with the capabilities of the various strands of militancy emerging in the country.

Published in Dawn, September 6th , 2014