A 179-page Pashto book titled Da Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaat Aqeedah, attributed to Afghan Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, raises fundamental questions about the religious justification of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) armed campaign against Pakistan. The religious principles outlined in the book provide a framework for examining the contradictions between TTP’s ideological claims and its actions, particularly as the organization considers the Afghan Taliban its ideological role model.

The book sets out clear principles concerning the sanctity of Muslim life and property, obedience to governing authority, restrictions on declaring fellow Muslims infidels, religious unity, justice and the fulfillment of trusts. These teachings offer an important standard against which TTP’s ideology and operational activities can be assessed.

Pages 131–132 emphasize the prohibition of raising arms against fellow Muslims and stress the importance of protecting........

© Pakistan Observer