A striking image recently surfaced on several jihadists' encrypted communications channels, featuring four ordinary everyday items repurposed as lethal tools of warfare. The image, featuring a Cheetah shoe, a yellow cooking oil plastic container, a vintage Nokia 1112 cell phone, and a motorbike, caught my attention, as it exemplifies the jihadists' longstanding tradition of leveraging unconventional tactics to gain a strategic upper hand against the enemy in the battlefield.

The caption accompanying the image ominously labels the items as the "destroyers of oppression and arrogance of the Western World". Having been completely harmless in their original form, they have since been repurposed as potent instruments of operational strength, utilized on the battlefield extensively against the world's most powerful military alliance in Afghanistan throughout the almost two-decade war.

The Cheetah brand shoes, manufactured by Pakistan’s leading shoe brand, Servis, have consistently been a popular choice among jihadists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, valued for their durability, comfort, and styling which has become a hallmark of jihadist attire in the region. 

Long before its association with militants, the brand had already gained traction in Pakistan's tribal region, particularly among young locals who would receive the shoes as a special Eid gift from their fathers, aligning with the traditional practice of wearing new clothes during the festive occasion.

Abu Yasir Mehsud, a senior Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander overseeing Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operations described the militants' fondness for Cheetah shoes, explaining that militants often travel on foot, making strong and lightweight footwear a practical choice. "So the Mujahideen use Servis shoes because these shoes are strong and lightweight. Even if they get wet, they don't absorb as much water as ordinary leather boots, which absorb water and become heavy," he said. 

He noted that while other brands also offer lighter and better-quality shoes these days, Servis shoes’s still enjoy symbolic importance among militants.

Nokia cell phones, once an iconic symbol of virtual connectivity and modernity, have been hijacked by militants to trigger lethal Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). IEDs can be considered the Jihadists’s most impactful tactical weapon in Afghanistan, as they effectively thwarted the ground advances of US and NATO forces. By employing IEDs, the Taliban successfully restricted Western forces to their fortified bases, severely curtailing their ability to conduct patrols and exert control outside.

Motorbikes, particularly the Pakistani-assembled Honda CD-70 and CG-125 bikes, have proven to be a valuable asset for jihadists' commutes. This agile , resilient and affordable conveyance enabled militants to travel rugged terrain with ease, avoiding main roads and thus possible detection. They proved especially useful for night-time raids against Western forces' bases, allowing jihadists to launch complex attacks with greater stealth and precision. Apart from using them for commuting, the bikes have also been widely used by militants for carrying out Motorcycle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (MBIED) attacks. 

Yasir said that motorcycles are the preferred mode of transportation for militants due to their multiple operational and commuting advantages. "They offer several advantages, including the ability to navigate rough terrain at high speeds, leaving enemy vehicles behind. They are low-cost, high-performance vehicles that consume less fuel and are less prone to breakdowns. They are easy to repair without needing a workshop," he pointed out.

A Dawn report from March 2023 reveals that Afghan businessmen are importing large numbers of Pakistan-assembled motorcycles to meet high demand. Consequently, Pakistan is facing a shortage of motorcycles, including Honda CG-125 bikes, and price hikes in cities like Karachi and Quetta, largely due to the increased exports to Afghanistan. 

TTP training camps provide specialized training on motorbikes, covering techniques such as jumping off while driving, firing at close range, and hitting targets with ease. Abu Yasir highlighted that one vital strategic advantage of motorcycles is that they enable fighters to lure the enemy into following them and then into desired locations for counterattacks.

“Motorcycles are expendable due to their relatively low cost, making it easy for our fighters to abandon them if necessary without their risking lives for them,” he revealed. 

Cooking oil plastic containers, a common household item in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, including my hometown in the Upper Waziristan tribal district, were eerily repurposed. Once used, after the oil inside had been utilized, for carrying or storing water or grains, these plastic containers started concealing deadly roadside bombs, lying in wait to unleash destruction on approaching enemy.

Moreover, militants also repurposed pressure cookers and metal tins for ghee and oil as makeshift IEDs, providing a secondary, yet equally lethal, option.

“Some of these items were not just utilitarian objects but carried symbolic significance for the Taliban during the insurgency. Poems were even written about them, reflecting their deeper operational and ideological impact. When I, recently, visited the Grand Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh, I saw these items proudly displayed in a small museum within the mosque’s vicinity. Their continued public display highlights their significance for the Taliban,” Tameem Bahiss, a Kabul-based reporter and analyst said on the phone.

The documented use of IEDs in Afghanistan dates back to 2004. Among jihadists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is widely believed that Al-Qaeda-affiliated Arab and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) affiliated Central Asian militants assisted both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban in developing IEDs using homemade materials. This is corroborated by Al-Qaeda's mouthpiece, As-Sahab propaganda videos, which at that time depicted on multiple occasions masked men preparing IEDs in makeshift rooms and subsequently detonating them against NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"According to my information, IEDs were introduced to Afghanistan by Al-Qaeda fighters from Iraq. Previously, IEDs were uncommon in Afghanistan, but Al-Qaeda later trained Afghan fighters and helped them master this tactic. However, Al-Qaeda also secured a commitment from the Taliban that these IEDs would not be used for any purposes contrary to Sharia," a militant source privy to the Taliban's and Al-Qaeda’s operational tactics in Afghanistan, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. 

Jihadists' improvised tactics have won them the war in Afghanistan and continue to enhance their operational effectiveness across their other theaters of operation. In contrast to traditional armies, which often rely on top-down orders and await bureaucratic approvals for certain counter-terrorism actions, jihadists rapidly adapt and respond, leveraging their agility to outmaneuver enemies and gain a tactical advantage.

The use of unconventional methods by non-state actors on the battlefield has become increasingly prevalent. According to Hugo Kaaman, a Sweden-based researcher and analyst specializing in militants' improvised warfare tactics, one notable example is the use of suicide bombings.

"The first tactic that comes to mind is suicide bombings, an improvised method of delivering large quantities of explosives to hit a specific target, but the groups that use them do so because they lack a better alternative (like an air force)," Kaaman explained in a phone interview.

Kaaman further noted that non-state actors often strive to emulate the military capabilities of state actors. "Non-state actors always try to emulate the arsenals in use by state actors because the former ultimately seeks to become a state actor too."

In recent years, Pakistan has introduced Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) as a counter-terrorism measure, adapting to the ever-evolving threat landscape. IBOs involve targeted, time-sensitive, and area-specific special operations against militants aimed at minimizing collateral damage, local suffering, and financial costs. Unlike large-scale military operations, which Pakistan has conducted over a dozen times in the past, IBOs have emerged as a key component of Pakistan's current kinetic counter-terrorism strategy. 

A continuous cycle of strategy versus counter-strategy unfolds between militants and security forces in Pakistan and globally. The operational landscape of militant outfits has undergone significant evolution, driven by emerging technologies, weaponry, and the widespread dissemination of information via social media platforms. This enables militants to stay informed about their enemies' counter-strategies, facilitating adaptability and innovation.

Hugo Kaaman observes that Generation Z terrorists are more innovative, but distinguish between those who access information through militants’ unofficial communications channels and those actively engaged in extremist networks. 

"People practically active with armed non-state actors have even more sound technical know-how of improvised tactics than the fanboys," Kaaman said. 

Most pieces of information relating to warfare tactics, strategy, bomb-making, designs, and general technical know-how are gained through the process of diffusion. “This information is both directly and indirectly diffused through practical experiences, propaganda video,s and inter-group communication,” he explained. 

Kaaman also highlights the rapid adoption of new tactics, citing the example of FPV drones and quadcopters. "Just look at how many groups are using FPV drones and quadcopters these days, dropping munitions, now compared to 10 years ago. One or two groups innovate and all the rest follow suit."