Not sure if this has been posted before but an important piece on how the TTP think and who the real enemy is.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Hakeemullah alive, vows to expedite attacks
LADDAH: New leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Hakeemullah Mehsud, thought by Pakistani and US officials to have been killed in infighting, appeared before a small group of journalists at an unspecified place in South Waziristan on Monday, vowing to avenge the killing of his predecessor Baitullah Mehsud and expedite attacks on US and Pakistani forces.
The international media reported on Saturday that US intelligence agencies believed that Hakeemullah died in a firefight with a rival faction weeks ago.
Hakimullah was accompanied at the meeting with journalists by Fidayeen-i-Islam commander Qari Hussain Mehsud, Talibans South Waziristan chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud and TTP spokesman Azam Tariq.
He alleged that both Pakistan and US were involved in drone attacks which had killed a large number of innocent women and children.
Hakeemullah said Pakistan had been created in the name of Islam, but its rulers were subservient to the American and Jewish lobbies.
This is why we are opposed to the army and Pakistani rulers. The Taliban are not against the people of Pakistan.
He said jihad would continue till the enforcement of Sharia in the country, adding that the Taliban had been struggling against the American hegemony in Pakistan for eight years and we will win the battle against infidels.
The TTP chief accused the government of having provided 1,000 of acres land for expansion of the US embassy and said that American agencies had hired over 200 houses in Islamabad to promote their agenda.
He said that agents of the Blackwater security agency were patrolling the streets of Islamabad and Peshawar.
In reply to a question, Hakeemullah said the TTP had links with Al Qaeda and other jihadi forces throughout the world. Shura Ittehadul Mujahideen was fully intact and he had held a meeting with its leaders only three days ago, he added.
He ruled out differences among Taliban groups and said that claims of clashes among them were false. You (journalists) can see it for yourselves that I (Hakeemullah), Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain are alive and safe and sound. The news of clashes among us and our fight for succession are false and fabricated to mislead the Taliban, he said.
Hakeemullah said that Afghan and Pakistani Taliban were one and there were no differences between them. The Afghan Taliban are fighting the allied forces under the leadership of Mullah Omar and we are his followers.
He accused the government of violating several agreements it had reached with the Taliban and said: If it (the government) accepts our demands, we are ready to hold talks.
He claimed that with the killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP had become stronger and a viable force.
Hakeemullah presented before journalists Qari Zafar who is wanted by the governments of Pakistan and America for his alleged involvement in attacks on the US consulate in Karachi and other government installations.
He said that Qari Zafar and several other groups from Orakzai, Hangu and Kohat had joined the Taliban. In an ominous note, he said that hundreds of suicide bombers were waiting for their turn to hit targets in Pakistan and Afghanistan.But he softened his tone soon: Pakistan is our country. We dont want to see our homeland divided. We want to see it prosperous and united. We only want to end the influence of Jews and Americans.
Obama, Zardari, Karzai, Bush and Musharraf are enemies of humanity. They have destroyed peace and want to promote terrorism in the world, he added.
In reply to a question about a military operation in tribal areas, Hakeemullah said the Taliban were ready to take on security forces. If the army makes any advance, we will resist it with full force.
He said the prevailing situation had badly affected Mehsud tribesmen and the Taliban praised them for their bravery. He said the Taliban had not suffered defeat in Swat, but retreated as part of the war strategy.
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Hakeemullah alive, vows to expedite attacks
LADDAH: New leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Hakeemullah Mehsud, thought by Pakistani and US officials to have been killed in infighting, appeared before a small group of journalists at an unspecified place in South Waziristan on Monday, vowing to avenge the killing of his predecessor Baitullah Mehsud and expedite attacks on US and Pakistani forces.
The international media reported on Saturday that US intelligence agencies believed that Hakeemullah died in a firefight with a rival faction weeks ago.
Hakimullah was accompanied at the meeting with journalists by Fidayeen-i-Islam commander Qari Hussain Mehsud, Talibans South Waziristan chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud and TTP spokesman Azam Tariq.
He alleged that both Pakistan and US were involved in drone attacks which had killed a large number of innocent women and children.
Hakeemullah said Pakistan had been created in the name of Islam, but its rulers were subservient to the American and Jewish lobbies.
This is why we are opposed to the army and Pakistani rulers. The Taliban are not against the people of Pakistan.
He said jihad would continue till the enforcement of Sharia in the country, adding that the Taliban had been struggling against the American hegemony in Pakistan for eight years and we will win the battle against infidels.
The TTP chief accused the government of having provided 1,000 of acres land for expansion of the US embassy and said that American agencies had hired over 200 houses in Islamabad to promote their agenda.
He said that agents of the Blackwater security agency were patrolling the streets of Islamabad and Peshawar.
In reply to a question, Hakeemullah said the TTP had links with Al Qaeda and other jihadi forces throughout the world. Shura Ittehadul Mujahideen was fully intact and he had held a meeting with its leaders only three days ago, he added.
He ruled out differences among Taliban groups and said that claims of clashes among them were false. You (journalists) can see it for yourselves that I (Hakeemullah), Waliur Rehman and Qari Hussain are alive and safe and sound. The news of clashes among us and our fight for succession are false and fabricated to mislead the Taliban, he said.
Hakeemullah said that Afghan and Pakistani Taliban were one and there were no differences between them. The Afghan Taliban are fighting the allied forces under the leadership of Mullah Omar and we are his followers.
He accused the government of violating several agreements it had reached with the Taliban and said: If it (the government) accepts our demands, we are ready to hold talks.
He claimed that with the killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP had become stronger and a viable force.
Hakeemullah presented before journalists Qari Zafar who is wanted by the governments of Pakistan and America for his alleged involvement in attacks on the US consulate in Karachi and other government installations.
He said that Qari Zafar and several other groups from Orakzai, Hangu and Kohat had joined the Taliban. In an ominous note, he said that hundreds of suicide bombers were waiting for their turn to hit targets in Pakistan and Afghanistan.But he softened his tone soon: Pakistan is our country. We dont want to see our homeland divided. We want to see it prosperous and united. We only want to end the influence of Jews and Americans.
Obama, Zardari, Karzai, Bush and Musharraf are enemies of humanity. They have destroyed peace and want to promote terrorism in the world, he added.
In reply to a question about a military operation in tribal areas, Hakeemullah said the Taliban were ready to take on security forces. If the army makes any advance, we will resist it with full force.
He said the prevailing situation had badly affected Mehsud tribesmen and the Taliban praised them for their bravery. He said the Taliban had not suffered defeat in Swat, but retreated as part of the war strategy.
