Gilgit Baltistan – Residents of Gilgit-Baltistan have firmly rejected the false propaganda of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reaffirming their commitment to peace, unity, and regional stability.
According to local sources, the TTP has recently attempted to spread hate material and revive sleeper cells through online propaganda campaigns. However, the community’s vigilance and resilience have prevented any disruption to public peace.
Local elders and youth representatives dismissed all militant-linked claims, emphasizing that Gilgit-Baltistan’s harmony, inter-sect unity, and strong community policing culture have shielded the region from extremist influence. Residents stressed that awareness campaigns, education, and religious tolerance continue to play a key role in countering violent narratives.
Security assessments available with local authorities confirm that no organized TTP structure or network exists in Gilgit-Baltistan, and that the group’s recent claims are “propaganda warfare” aimed at regaining relevance after suffering major setbacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal belt.
OSINT Chatter and Disputed Claims
Open-source accounts on the X platform have circulated unverified reports suggesting that TTP propaganda attempts were linked to Khalid Balti, also known as Muhammad Khorasani, a militant propagandist originally from Gilgit-Baltistan who was killed in 2022.
One journalist, Wajahat Kazmi, who, according to his X profile, is a Pakistani anchor and analyst with prior experience at Dawn News, Samaa TV, and international outlets, observed that the TTP was “trying to reignite sleeper cells in Gilgit-Baltistan by spreading hate material and propaganda tied to Khalid Balti.”
While these claims have circulated online, no official verification has been issued by Pakistani authorities or local law enforcement.
Earlier, some open-source channels had also referenced an unverified TTP claim of an attack on GB Scouts in the Bosh Das area on the night of October 7–8, though no official reports or confirmations of such an incident were released by provincial or security agencies.
Locals Emphasize Peace, Reject Extremism
Community leaders and civil society members across Skardu, Hunza, and Ghizer reiterated that Gilgit-Baltistan remains one of Pakistan’s most peaceful regions, and that such propaganda aims to sow sectarian discord and weaken local cohesion.
“Our people have lived side by side for generations, these terror groups feed on disunity, but they have no roots here,” said one local elder while speaking to HTN’s regional correspondent.
Analysts view the TTP’s online claims as an act of desperation, pointing to the group’s shrinking ground influence and growing reliance on digital misinformation. Security experts say the rejection by Gilgit-Baltistan’s population underscores the region’s resilience and serves as a positive model of community-driven counter-extremism.
