Foreign Policy

Given the Afghan Taliban’s links with the Pakistani Taliban [TTP] — both operational and ideological — Pakistan really has to worry about the risks a resurgent TTP poses to Pakistan. It has already seen some of those risks materialize with the release of TTP prisoners from jails in Afghanistan in recent weeks as well as an uptick in attacks against Pakistani security forces. [Pakistan’s] relationship with the Taliban in particular could strain Pakistan’s already troubled relationship with the U.S.

Because the Muslim population is based in cities and relatively small, nativists have little contact with and are unlikely to focus on  Muslims for long: "We are not the main target of xenophobia because there are bigger groups to be racist about."