New ‘air force’ wing, shadow provinces, leadership reshuffle: Why TTP’s 2026 expansion plan spells trouble for Pakistan

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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan unveiled a new 2026 structure, including an “Air Force” unit, expanded shadow provinces, and leadership changes, signaling increased capability and threat to Pakistan amid rising attacks and tensions with the Afghan Taliban.

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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has announced a sweeping new organisational structure for 2026, including plans to set up an “Air Force” unit, signalling a sharp escalation in its intent and capability to strike the Pakistani state, reports CNN-News18 quoting sources.

According to sources, the newly announced structure lays out the TTP’s military formations, provincial deployments, and internal departments in detail. The inclusion of an air force wing is being seen as a major propaganda and operational leap, underlining the growing threat the group poses to Pakistan’s already fragile internal security situation.

Pakistan has seen a steady rise in terror attacks since the TTP ended its ceasefire with Islamabad in November 2022. The violence has been most intense in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where security forces, police, and law enforcement personnel have repeatedly come under attack.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, referred to by the Pakistani state as Fitna al Khawarij, is a banned organisation and remains one of Pakistan’s most serious internal security challenges. Islamabad has long accused the group of operating from Afghan soil, a charge denied by the Taliban regime in Kabul.

New zones and expansion of shadow control

As part of its restructuring, the TTP has announced the creation of two new supervision zones to manage what it calls shadow provinces. These include a Western Zone covering Balochistan and a Central Zone. Each zone will be headed by an overall military commander.

The group has also expanded its list of shadow provinces under administrative control. New additions include a Kashmir province and Gilgit Baltistan, reflecting the TTP’s attempt to symbolically extend its footprint into sensitive and disputed regions.

Leadership reshuffle across military wings

The restructuring includes major changes in leadership across all military zones. Ehsanullah Ipi has been appointed as head of the Southern Military Zone. He is the great grandson of Faqir Ipi, a historical militant figure who formally joined the TTP in March 2022.

Hilal Ghazi has been named deputy head of the Central Military Zone. In the political wing, Azmatullah Mehsud has replaced Maulvi Faqir Muhammad as head of the Political Commission. Maulvi Faqir will continue as a member of the commission, while Sarbakaf Mohmand has been dropped entirely from the leadership.

TTP announces ‘Air Force’ unit

One of the most striking elements of the announcement is the creation of a dedicated Air Force wing. The unit will operate under the leadership of Saleem Haqqani. Sources say this reflects the group’s growing interest in drones, aerial surveillance, and psychological warfare, even if its actual capabilities remain limited for now.

The announcement highlights how militant groups in the region are adapting tactics seen in conflicts elsewhere, raising fresh concerns for Pakistan’s overstretched security apparatus.

Pakistan corners Taliban over TTP threat

The timing of the TTP announcement comes as Pakistan publicly pressures the Afghan Taliban over its alleged support for the group. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff Asim Munir issued a blunt warning to Kabul.

Speaking at a security forum, Munir told the Afghan Taliban to choose between Pakistan and the TTP, stating that Islamabad would no longer tolerate militant sanctuaries across the border. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of allowing the TTP to regroup and launch attacks from Afghan territory, an allegation the Taliban government has rejected.

Despite these warnings, the latest restructuring by the TTP suggests the group feels confident enough to openly expand and reorganise, exposing Pakistan’s deepening security crisis and the limits of its leverage over Kabul.

With terror attacks rising, militant groups reorganising openly, and Islamabad locked in a tense standoff with the Taliban, Pakistan’s internal security landscape appears increasingly unstable heading into 2026.