The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) of Pakistan has officially outlawed Majid Brigade and Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group as being involved in terrorist activities within the country.
The organizations in question, Majid Brigade and Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group were added to the list of prohibited entities following approval from the Ministry of Interior. The declaration that the Majid Brigade was banned came on July 18, 2024, and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group followed on July 25, 2024. This action brings the total number of banned organizations in Pakistan to 81.
This measure comes against a backdrop of escalating terrorist incidents, particularly in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has attributed many of these attacks to terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan and has urged the interim Taliban government to address these activities. However, Afghanistan has consistently refuted these claims.
A recent study by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies highlights a concerning increase in suicide bombings and terrorist attacks within Pakistan for the current year. According to their report, these incidents have resulted in the deaths of 389 civilians and nearly 281 security personnel, totalling 432 civilian casualties from terrorism in the period reviewed.
