E-Paper
Taliban leader forms splinter group
Fazal Saeed, a 'commander' of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, has formed his own group as he was opposed to the policy of attacking civilians.
Fazal Saeed, a 'commander' of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, has formed his own group as he was opposed to the policy of attacking civilians.
Saeed, who operates in Kurram Agency in northwest Pakistan, went his separate way to protest against Taliban policies of attacking civilians. He has named his grouping as Tehrik-i-Taliban Islami, reported Dawn Tuesday.
He said his group would continue to battle NATO forces in Afghanistan and anti-Islam elements in Pakistan.
"We abhor killing innocent people through suicide attacks and bomb blasts, attacks on our own army and destruction of social infrastructure," a statement quoted him as saying.
He claimed that he had asked the TTP leadership not to target innocent people and the army, but his pleas went unheard.
"The new organisation will not attack our own security forces," he claimed.
Security analysts consider it a significant development.
"For the first time someone has publicly spoken against the TTP and criticised its strategy," said Brigadier (retd) Mahmood Shah in Peshawar.
