Pakistani Taliban threatens to focus on prime leaders of ruling coalition

By Press Trust of India: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday threatened to focus on the highest leaders of the 2 main political events within the ruling coalition in the event that they continued to help robust measures in opposition to the militant group.

The TTP, which is believed to be near al-Qaeda, has explicitly warned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) – the 2 main events of the ruling coalition.

“If these two parties remain firm on their position and continue to be slaves of the army, then action will be taken against their leading people,” a press release issued by the militant group mentioned.

The group warned that “people should avoid getting close to such leading people.”

It claimed that the TTP was solely waging what it referred to as “jihad” in Pakistan and “our target is the security agencies occupying the country”.

It explicitly warned Foreign Minister Bilawal, whose mom, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was killed allegedly by the TTP militants in a terrorist assault in 2007.

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“Although Bilawal is still young, this poor man has not yet witnessed the state of war,” the assertion mentioned, including that the PPP chief had declared an open struggle on TTP.

The group additionally mentioned that it had not taken motion in opposition to any political celebration for a very long time however “unfortunately…Bilawal Bhutto Zardari gave the US the status of mother to quench the thirst of his mother’s love”.

The terrorist outfit additionally mentioned that Prime Minister Sharif had dedicated the help of his total celebration within the struggle in opposition to TTP to please the US.

The TTP spared the non secular political events, saying there isn’t a scope for motion in opposition to them in TTP’s coverage. However, it mentioned that “we also request you (religious parties) to refrain from activities against us.”

The warning comes simply days after the civil-military management of the nation met beneath the banner of the National Security Committee and vowed to indicate “zero tolerance” for terrorism within the nation.

Prime Minister Sharif chaired the NSC assembly whereas Bilawal, who had advocated a brand new coverage in opposition to the rebels, additionally participated.

Addressing a press convention on Wednesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah mentioned that steps had been being taken to cope with the Taliban risk within the gentle of the choice taken on the assembly of the National Security Committee.

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The NSC, in two separate rounds of conferences since final Friday, determined to indicate “zero-tolerance” in direction of militant teams.

“NSC reiterated its resolve to have zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirmed its determination to take on any and all entities that resort to violence. This will be dealt with full force of the state. Pakistan’s security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of Pakistan’s territory,” mentioned a press release issued by the PM Office after the assembly.

The NSC is the very best physique to finalize selections about key safety and strategic issues regarding nationwide safety.

When requested concerning the TTP risk to focus on leaders of the 2 main political events, the inside minister mentioned that there was a “general threat of terrorism” and the federal government was already taking the mandatory precautions.

Sanaullah mentioned that the federal government was taking steps to counter terrorism however such measures could not be publicised. “You will see the decisions that were made in regards to this being implemented in the coming days,” he mentioned.

He mentioned that pre-emptive measures had been being taken to counter the risk.

The minister mentioned that the federal government had adopted a coverage of “zero tolerance” in opposition to terrorism with no differentiation between “good or bad terrorists”. He mentioned whoever was concerned in terrorism was a terrorist.

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He additionally acknowledged that efforts had been underway to convey the TTP to the negotiation desk however the rebels must submit earlier than the legislation.

“They will have to first set aside arms and surrender before the law and the constitution,” he said, adding that the government was fully committed to purge Pakistan of the menace of terrorism.

On Tuesday, Sanaullah had said that there will be no talks with the TTP or any other terrorist organisation.

The foreign minister earlier also opposed talks with the militants, saying the government would not follow the policy of appeasement.

In November, the TTP called off an indefinite ceasefire agreed with the government in June and ordered its militants to carry out attacks on the security forces.

The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan.

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Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Taliban after coming to power would stop the use of their soil against Pakistan by expelling the TTP operatives but they have apparently refused to do so at the cost of straining ties with Islamabad.

The TTP has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

In 2012, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was attacked by TTP. She suffered bullet injuries and was admitted to the Military Hospital (CMH) Peshawar and then taken to London for further treatment. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that Yousafzai was a “Western-minded woman”.

In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban stormed the Army Public School (APS) within the northwestern metropolis of Peshawar, killing not less than 150 folks, together with 131 college students. The assault despatched shockwaves internationally, and was broadly condemned.

Published On:

Jan 4, 2023