Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi Japan of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers'

[Tejas Spokesman]

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi Japan of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers'
September 16, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), is seen in this image provided by the TTP.

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and stated, "We are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us," showing his expectations to strengthen cooperation with the Islamic group, in an exclusive interview with the Mainichi Shimbun.

The Pakistani government is tightening its guard against the TTP, who are gaining momentum with the Taliban back in control. The two groups are known to share the ideal of governing by Sharia, or Islamic law.

The TTP, established in 2007, is an alliance of militant groups based in northwest Pakistan or near the Afghanistan border. The group caught international attention with the 2012 attack on 14-year-old advocator for women's education Malala Yousafzai, who two years later won the Nobel Peace Prize. A 2014 school massacre killing over 140 people, mostly students, in the western city of Peshawar was also pinned on the militants.

During the interview, the leader spoke of the relationship with his Afghan counterpart to be "cordial and like a brotherhood." But he denied collaboration and commented, "We don't have any opportunities to participate (in their activities)," claiming that the TTP's activities are confined within Pakistan.

As for the Taliban, the commander said, "For their immense sacrifices, they will be given help from Allah. We sincerely hope for the establishment of a pure Sharia emirate." He rejected the idea that the power-shift in Afghanistan would affect TTP strategies, adding, "We are already intensifying our attacks from time to time against the government of Pakistan."

The Mainichi asked about the TTP's relationship with China. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan's infrastructure based on an economic package known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Recently, the Chinese nationals related to these projects are believed to have become targets of repeated terrorist attacks. Quite a few cases have been linked to the TTP, but Mehsud claimed, "There is no hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people to "not be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracy and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP."

Mehsud took the helm in 2018 and has revived activities of the TTP that had reportedly weakened at one point.

This rare interview was held indirectly for "security reasons." In response to a written inquiry provided to the TTP, Mehsud's recorded answers in Urdu and his photo were given to a Mainichi local correspondent on Sept. 6 and 14 through a related party.

(Foreign News Department)

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers' - The Mainichi

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20

mainichi.jp

Mainichi Shimbun became Japan's 3rd highest circulated newspaper in 2020.

 

[SD 10]

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi Japan of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers'
September 16, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), is seen in this image provided by the TTP.

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and stated, "We are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us," showing his expectations to strengthen cooperation with the Islamic group, in an exclusive interview with the Mainichi Shimbun.

The Pakistani government is tightening its guard against the TTP, who are gaining momentum with the Taliban back in control. The two groups are known to share the ideal of governing by Sharia, or Islamic law.

The TTP, established in 2007, is an alliance of militant groups based in northwest Pakistan or near the Afghanistan border. The group caught international attention with the 2012 attack on 14-year-old advocator for women's education Malala Yousafzai, who two years later won the Nobel Peace Prize. A 2014 school massacre killing over 140 people, mostly students, in the western city of Peshawar was also pinned on the militants.

During the interview, the leader spoke of the relationship with his Afghan counterpart to be "cordial and like a brotherhood." But he denied collaboration and commented, "We don't have any opportunities to participate (in their activities)," claiming that the TTP's activities are confined within Pakistan.

As for the Taliban, the commander said, "For their immense sacrifices, they will be given help from Allah. We sincerely hope for the establishment of a pure Sharia emirate." He rejected the idea that the power-shift in Afghanistan would affect TTP strategies, adding, "We are already intensifying our attacks from time to time against the government of Pakistan."

The Mainichi asked about the TTP's relationship with China. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan's infrastructure based on an economic package known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Recently, the Chinese nationals related to these projects are believed to have become targets of repeated terrorist attacks. Quite a few cases have been linked to the TTP, but Mehsud claimed, "There is no hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people to "not be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracy and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP."

Mehsud took the helm in 2018 and has revived activities of the TTP that had reportedly weakened at one point.

This rare interview was held indirectly for "security reasons." In response to a written inquiry provided to the TTP, Mehsud's recorded answers in Urdu and his photo were given to a Mainichi local correspondent on Sept. 6 and 14 through a related party.

(Foreign News Department)

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers' - The Mainichi

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20

mainichi.jp

Mainichi Shimbun became Japan's 3rd highest circulated newspaper in 2020.

ah the pakistani taliban trying to play games and their helpers on this forum trying to drive a wedge!!!!!

 

[Mirzali Khan]

During the interview, the leader spoke of the relationship with his Afghan counterpart to be "cordial and like a brotherhood."

Obviously lmao

"We don't have any opportunities to participate (in their activities)," claiming that the TTP's activities are confined within Pakistan.

God bless the wall

We are already intensifying our attacks from time to time against the government of Pakistan."

Will never control territory like it did in 2009.

Quite a few cases have been linked to the TTP, but Mehsud claimed, "There is no hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people to "not be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracy and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP."

Considering Taliban is friends with China maybe they were forced to kinda mend their views. I know they were saying stuff about Uyghurs and they do team up with BLA from time to time.

Mehsud's recorded answers in Urdu

What the f happened to "freeing FATA" if you are giving interviews in Urdu lmao

 

[STREANH]

Isn't that an ISIS flag in the background ? I thought Taliban/TTP and ISIS are enemies.

 

[Mirzali Khan]

ah the pakistani taliban trying to play games and their helpers on this forum trying to drive a wedge!!!!!

Their activities did go up tho

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

Isn't that an ISIS flag in the background ? I thought Taliban/TTP and ISIS are enemies.

Confused much ? Talibans and TTP are seperate entities no matter how much Indians trying to protray them as one.

 

[waz]

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi Japan of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers'
September 16, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)

Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), is seen in this image provided by the TTP.

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and stated, "We are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us," showing his expectations to strengthen cooperation with the Islamic group, in an exclusive interview with the Mainichi Shimbun.

The Pakistani government is tightening its guard against the TTP, who are gaining momentum with the Taliban back in control. The two groups are known to share the ideal of governing by Sharia, or Islamic law.

The TTP, established in 2007, is an alliance of militant groups based in northwest Pakistan or near the Afghanistan border. The group caught international attention with the 2012 attack on 14-year-old advocator for women's education Malala Yousafzai, who two years later won the Nobel Peace Prize. A 2014 school massacre killing over 140 people, mostly students, in the western city of Peshawar was also pinned on the militants.

During the interview, the leader spoke of the relationship with his Afghan counterpart to be "cordial and like a brotherhood." But he denied collaboration and commented, "We don't have any opportunities to participate (in their activities)," claiming that the TTP's activities are confined within Pakistan.

As for the Taliban, the commander said, "For their immense sacrifices, they will be given help from Allah. We sincerely hope for the establishment of a pure Sharia emirate." He rejected the idea that the power-shift in Afghanistan would affect TTP strategies, adding, "We are already intensifying our attacks from time to time against the government of Pakistan."

The Mainichi asked about the TTP's relationship with China. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan's infrastructure based on an economic package known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. Recently, the Chinese nationals related to these projects are believed to have become targets of repeated terrorist attacks. Quite a few cases have been linked to the TTP, but Mehsud claimed, "There is no hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people to "not be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracy and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP."

Mehsud took the helm in 2018 and has revived activities of the TTP that had reportedly weakened at one point.

This rare interview was held indirectly for "security reasons." In response to a written inquiry provided to the TTP, Mehsud's recorded answers in Urdu and his photo were given to a Mainichi local correspondent on Sept. 6 and 14 through a related party.

(Foreign News Department)

Pakistan Taliban head tells Mainichi of desire to strengthen ties with Afghan 'brothers' - The Mainichi

The head of the Islamic militant group Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud, welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20

mainichi.jp

Mainichi Shimbun became Japan's 3rd highest circulated newspaper in 2020.

So basically the IEA wants nothing to do with us and we continue to plot terror attacks, and we have loose links with ISIS.

 

[Baby Leone]

lol

 

[STREANH]

Confused much ? Talibans and TTP are seperate entities no matter how much Indians trying to protray them as one.

My Bad, I meant Pakistani Taliban (TTP). But they do share the similar ideology as Afghan Taliban. Let me know your views about this article derived from the same interview as OP.

TTP’s enmity toward Pakistan creates risk for Chinese projects: analysts - Global Times

In an exclusive interview with Japanese media outlet Mainichi Shimbun, TTP leader Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and said that "We are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us." Regarding the TTP's ties with the Afghan Taliban, Mehsud said that the relationship is "Cordial and like a brotherhood." But he denied there was any collaboration.

The Mainichi Shimbun said that the Afghan Taliban and the TTP are "Known to share the ideal of governing by Sharia, or Islamic law." The remarks showed that the TTP hopes to benefit from the Afghan Taliban's takeover as they are both Pashtuns and the Afghan Taliban's victory represents a victory for Pashtuns and Islamism, Zhang Jiadong, a professor at the Center for American Studies, Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, said that the TTP leaders' remarks showed that while the Afghan Taliban wants to cut ties with the TTP, the TTP wants the opposite.

In 2009, the Afghan Taliban denied having ties with the TTP and released statements to openly condemn the TTP's attacks on civilians.

Some members of the TTP also helped the Taliban to fight the former Afghan government.

During the interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, Mehsud claimed that there is "No hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people "Not to be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracies and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP." However, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said that the TTP is playing tricks to confuse the international community and its leader's remarks cannot disguise the fact that the TTP is a terrorist group.

The Afghan Taliban may try to cut ties with the TTP, Qian noted.

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

My Bad, I meant Pakistani Taliban (TTP). But they do share the similar ideology as Afghan Taliban. Let me know your views about this article derived from the same interview as OP.

TTP’s enmity toward Pakistan creates risk for Chinese projects: analysts - Global Times

In an exclusive interview with Japanese media outlet Mainichi Shimbun, TTP leader Mufti Wali Noor Mehsud welcomed the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years of absence and said that "We are hopeful for a strong relationship between the two of us." Regarding the TTP's ties with the Afghan Taliban, Mehsud said that the relationship is "Cordial and like a brotherhood." But he denied there was any collaboration.

The Mainichi Shimbun said that the Afghan Taliban and the TTP are "Known to share the ideal of governing by Sharia, or Islamic law." The remarks showed that the TTP hopes to benefit from the Afghan Taliban's takeover as they are both Pashtuns and the Afghan Taliban's victory represents a victory for Pashtuns and Islamism, Zhang Jiadong, a professor at the Center for American Studies, Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, said that the TTP leaders' remarks showed that while the Afghan Taliban wants to cut ties with the TTP, the TTP wants the opposite.

In 2009, the Afghan Taliban denied having ties with the TTP and released statements to openly condemn the TTP's attacks on civilians.

Some members of the TTP also helped the Taliban to fight the former Afghan government.

During the interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, Mehsud claimed that there is "No hostility between the TTP and China." But he warned the Chinese government and its people "Not to be influenced by Pakistan's conspiracies and deception, and to avoid initiating a war against the TTP." However, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said that the TTP is playing tricks to confuse the international community and its leader's remarks cannot disguise the fact that the TTP is a terrorist group.

The Afghan Taliban may try to cut ties with the TTP, Qian noted.

TTP are mostly thugs and criminals with no political agenda unlike Afghan Talibans to start with.

Yes all these jihadi groups use religion to legitimize themselves in the eyes of locals untile they leash their terror.

 

[Menace2Society]

They literally massacred a school full of children and burned the teacher alive. What moral cause is this? Iranian and Indian funding no doubt.

 

[IbnAbdullah]

Salaam


I'm sure they desire closeness with the IEA but whether that desire is reciprocated or not is another matter.

What do they have to offer to the IEA in return for helping them against Pakistan. Even allowing them to operate from Afghanistan would equal helping them against Pakistan.

 

[Menace2Society]

What do they have to offer to the IEA in return for helping them against Pakistan. Even allowing them to operate from Afghanistan would equal helping them against Pakistan.

They are already operating from Afghanistan.

 

[SD 10]

Their activities did go up tho

things weont be sorted out in a day ...... it will take a lot of time...... than things will clear up.

 

[IbnAbdullah]

Salaam

They are already operating from Afghanistan.

I do know that, I meant will they be allowed free hand as they were under the previous regime once they IEA are able fully establish the administrative machinery needed to control such elements.