What Game is Pakistan Playing in Nigeria in the Name of Counterterrorism Cooperation against Boko Haram and ISIS in West Africa
By New Age Islam Staff Writer
31 May 2025
Nigerian military personnel receive training in Pakistan
Main Points:
1. Four Pakistanis were arrested by Nigeria's counterterrorism forces on 28th May 2025.
2. Pakistan's General Sahir Shamshad Mirza had visited Nigeria on 12th May 2025 to boost defence and counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
3. The Pakistanis were reportedly involved in terrorist attacks in Nigeria.
4. The Pakistanis provided Boko Haram and ISWAP arms and training.
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In an interesting development, four Pakistani nationals were arrested on 8th May 2025 by Nigeria's counterterrorism forces for abetting terrorism and providing arms and tactical training to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria. Initial investigations have revealed that the four Pakistanis provided arms and training to Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists. The arrests came barely a fortnight after Pakistan's Chairman Chiefs of Army Staff Committee Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza visited Nigeria and met Nigeria's President and the military leadership to further boost defence and counterterrorism cooperation. The incident highlights what kind of counterterrorism expertise and support Pakistan has been providing to Nigeria to fight against terrorist organisations like Boko Haram. The defence and counterterrorism coperation between Pakistan and Nigeria kicked off in 2014 when Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan and Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain entered into an agreement on defence and counterterrorism cooperation as well as trade partnership. Pakistan boasts of its expertise and experience in fighting terrorism and insurgency and presents itself as a victim of terrorism. On this basis, Pakistan impressed Nigeria's leadership because Nigeria was also struggling with terrorist organisations like Boko Haram which came into existence in 2002. In 2014, another terrorist organisation ISIS emerged and imposed its so-called caliphate in Levant. Many offshoots and affiliates of the ISIS emerged in African and Asian countries. ISWAP was one of its offshoots which posed another threat to its security. Therefore, Nigerian government agreed to take Pakistan's help in combating terrorism. Under this agreement, 2000 Nigerian military personnel received training in Pakistan. However, Pakistan's support and training did not provide respite from terrorism as Boko Haram and ISWAP continued their attacks on government and military personnel as well as civilians. Boko Haram attacked modern schools and kidnapped students while ISWAP attacked Christians and non-Sunni Muslims and civilian population. Thousands of innocent people including students have been abducted and killed and hundreds of villages have been destroyed by the terrorists in the last ten years.
This is because, Pakistan itself does not have the will or expertise to fight terrorism on its land. It has not been able to eliminate terrorist and militant groups operating on its land. A number of its initiatives and operations have proved counterproductive and a failure. Let's take a look at some of major terrorist attacks in Pakistan in the same year e.g. 2014.
On January 21, a bomb attack on a bus of pilgrims killed at least 24 Hazara and injured 40 others in Mastung District, Balochistan.
On February 13, a suicide bomber targeted a bus of police officers, killing at least 13 and injuring 58 others near Razzakabad Police Training Centre in Shah Latif Town, Karachi.
On March 3, two suicide bombers and armed terrorists killed 11 people and injured 25 at the district court in Islamabad's F-8 sector.
On April 9, a bomb at an Islamabad vegetable market killed 24 people and injured 116.
On May 25, a bomb attack on a security convoy in the Pandiyali tehsil of Mohmand Agency killed six security personnel and injured three others.
On May 25, armed men attacked a check-post along the Quetta-Karachi Highway in Wadh tehsil of Khuzdar District, Balochistan, killing at least eight Balochistan law enforcement officials and injuring three others.
On June 8, armed men attacked Karachi airport, killing 13 people. An Army spokesman said security forces killed all 10 of the gunmen.
On September 6, naval security thwarted a terrorist attack on Karachi Naval Dockyard. One sailor and two attackers died in a firefight, while security forces captured four attackers. The terrorists reportedly planned to hijack a naval frigate.
On November 2, a suicide bomber killed at least 60 people at the Wagah border crossing with India. TTP splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahraar claimed responsibility.
On December 16, armed militants wearing paramilitary uniforms and suicide vests attacked an Army-run school in Peshawar, killing at least 144, mostly children. TTP claimed responsibility for what local media termed the deadliest attack in Pakistan's history.
The 16 December 2014,terrorist attack was carried out by terrorists as a retaliation of the Operation Zarb-Azb by the Pak military but was shelved after the army suffered heavy casualty.
Earlier in February 2014, the Pakistan government launched National Internal Security Plan to combat terrorism and violent extremism but could not implement it successfully due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and lack of funds.
During the last ten years, insurgency and terrorism has seen a steep rise in Pakistan. TTP, LeT and other militant organisations have been operating openly and the insurgency in Balochistan has intensified. The Pak army has suffered not only huge casualties at the hands of the Baloch rebels but also thousands of its soldiers and army officers have resigned or absconded due to low morale in the army rank and file.
Therefore, the Pakistan army had nothing to offer to Nigeria in terms of counter terrorism measures but it bullied Nigeria into buying its so so-called expertise and experience to get money for its cash strapped economy. Pakistan promoted terrorism on its land to get billions of dollars from the US. It played the same game with Nigeria. It promoted terrorism by planting its terrorists in Boko Haram and ISWAP so that it can get financial assistance from Nigeria for training its army as long as terrorism and insurgency lasts in the country. This is the same game the US plays in terrorism struck countries. The more the US is involved in the war on terror in a particular country, the more terrorism spreads there. The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin kai, Abdulsalam Abubaker revealed this modus operandi. He said that because of the involvement of the foreign mercenaries in terrorism in the country, the terrorist organisations have got more sophisticated weapons, devices and tactics inflicting greater losses to the forces and civilians. They now use drones for surveillance, IED and other sophisticated tactics. The foreign mercenaries facilitated tactical and strategic training to the terrorists. This coordination has led to greater casualties and significant loss for the government forces. According to him, the four Pakistanis were involved in terror attacks in the north east state of Nigeria.This development was witnessed only after the involvement of Pakistan in Nigeria's war against terrorism.
It is now no secret that Pakistan army is hands in glove with the ISIS in Pakistan. Recently, the ISIS announced that it will attack Baloch rebels and peaceful protesters in Balochistan apparently to help the Pakistan army in combating the Baloch nationalists. Therefore, liaison between the Pakistan military and the ISWAP cannot be ruled out.
It would, therefore, be wise on the part of the Nigerian government to abandon the counter terrorism plan with Pakistan as it would only promote terrorism in the country by providing sophisticated weapons and devices to the terrorists. It would be more prudent on its part to combat terror with the help of its neighbouring countries as Mr Abubaker has wisely advised his government.
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