Taliban chief directs militants not to attack Pakistani forces

The militants active in Pakistan's North and South Waziristan tribal districts have forged a new alliance after fugitive chief of the Taliban Movement, Mullah Muhammad Omar, admonished them for fighting the Pakistani security forces and killing the Muslim brethren, a reliable source said here Monday.

"Mullah Omar first sent an envoy to the local Taliban and then wrote a letter to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) admonishing the leaders of the outfit for fighting the Pakistani security forces and killing the Muslim brethren," a source in the outlawed militant outfit said via telephone requesting anonymity for obvious reasons.

The source said the Taliban Movement chief told the TTP leaders that fighting Muslims could not be described as jihad so they should immediately cease attacks on the Pakistani security forces. He told them that if they really want to participate in jihad, they must fight the US and Nato troops inside Afghanistan because their attacks on the Pakistani security forces are undermining the objectives of the war against the invaders and cause of the Taliban Movement.

"If anybody really wants to wage jihad, he must fight the occupation forces inside Afghanistan," the source quoted Mullah Omar as having told the TTP leaders. "Attacks on Pakistani security forces and killing of fellow Muslims by the militants in the tribal areas and elsewhere in Pakistan is bringing a bad name to mujahideen [holy warriors] and harming the war against the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. Our aim is to liberate Afghanistan from the occupation forces and death and destruction inside neighbouring Pakistan has never been our goal," he added.

The source said that according to Mullah Omar, the US was devising a new strategy and adopting new tactics to crush the mujahideen in Afghanistan so the Taliban too must forge unity in their ranks and instead of operating in Pakistan, they must concentrate on the actions against the US and Nato forces. He said the new alliance has been directed by Mullah Omar to devise a new strategy to counter the invaders because the reinforcement of the US forces in Afghanistan is food for thought for all the forces fighting the occupation forces in the war-ravaged country.

"The formation of a new alliance of militants by the name of Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen is aimed at implementing the advice given by Mullah Omar," the source said. "After this development, the attacks on security forces by the local Taliban at least decrease if not ended completely," he said.

When contacted, government officials and leaders of the ruling parties, including the Awami National Party and Pakistan People's Party, refused to say anything on record. However, one of the officials feared that if the newly found alliance of the militants stepped up their attacks on the coalition troops inside Afghanistan, it would create many problems for Pakistan and Islamabad would face its consequences.

According to an announcement made on Sunday, the new alliance comprises the groups led by central head of the banned TTP, Baitullah Mahsud, and Maulvi Nazir of South Waziristan and Hafiz Gul Bahadar of North Waziristan, two militant commanders who are considered to be the pro-government. A 13-member body has also been named to run the affairs of the new alliance of militants.