So, finally, there is a three-way split in the Radio Mullah Fazlullah-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which is an umbrella body for 40-plus groups with Sajna and Khurasani deciding to go their own way. As Amir Mir said in The News, this is no good news for the Pakistan Army which has been targeting the TTP since mid-June under operation Zarb-e-Azab in North Waziristan. It is because both Sajna and Khurasani are no less fundamentalist jihadis than Fazlullah and both like the Radio Mullah, have resolved to not spare the army and the government in their drive to herald a Shariah caliphate in Pakistan
Said Khan Sajna, the Ameer of the South Waziristan was the first to move out in May. Also known as Khalid Mehsud, he formed his own outfit, Halqa-e-Mehsud TTP. It appeared as though he has become “Good Taliban” and would therefore not target the state of Pakistan. Well, that was the spin from militant handlers. But the August 14 attack on Quetta airbases has proved them wrong beyond doubt.
The Ameer of the Mohmand chapter, Omar Khalid Khurasani, who was credited with the beheading of 23FC soldiers in March 2013, has now floated Jamaat ul Ihraar (JuI) and entrusted its responsibility to Ameer of the Swat, Maulana Umar Qasim Khurasani.
Omar Khalid Khurasani is close to the al-Qaeda chief Dr Ayman al Zawahiri and subscribes to the Taliban goal: topple the Pakistan government, impose Shariah, seize Pakistani nuclear weapons and wage jehad until the Caliphate is established across the world.
Over 50 percent senior TTP commanders from Mohmand, Bajaur, Orakzai, Khyber, Kurram, Swat and Charsadda, have already abandoned the TTP and joined the Jamaat ul Ihraar, according to Mir.
On why they have left Mullah Fazlullah, Umar Qasim has given a long explanation. In a video message he said: “The TTP is weakening with every passing day, as some of Taliban commanders are misusing their powers for their vested interests and the real Mujahideen are being sidelined. They have hijacked the Tehrik. A no action was taken against them despite our objections, we decided to form Jamaat ul Ihraar which will not only unite the Mujahideen but also strive to implement the Islamic Shariah in Pakistan. We will follow the pattern of Mullah Omar-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Afghan Taliban)”.
Jamaat ul Ihraar is the new avatar of Ihraar ul Hind, which had claimed responsibility for the March 1, 2014 attack on Islamabad’s district court complex that left 11people including a judge dead.
Splits in jihadi amoeba are not new. But the latest split in TTP will give sleepless nights to the ISI handlers of the militant groups. Consider this. Both Sajna and Omar Khalid groups have claimed responsibility for the Aug 15 strikes on Samungali and Khalid airbases in Quetta. The jihadis of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, who are aligned with the TTP and stationed in North Waziristan, also took part in the twin fidayeen attacks.
In an audio message, Azam Tariq, a senior commander and spokesperson of the Sajna group said: “Members from suicide squad of Sajna group led by Commander Salar Mehsud, Mohmand chapter of TTP and suicide squad of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan took part in this joint venture. It was revenge of ongoing military operation in North Waziristan, drone strikes and the killings of militants in the custody of security forces.”
Omar Khalid Khurasani’s spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan also claimed credit for the airbase attack.
“A martyrdom operation was carried out between the night of August 14 and 15 by 16 martyrdom operators of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Jamaat ul Ihraar), the Mehsud Division (Said Sajna Group) and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan which attacked two airbases in Quetta,” read his statement in English. “The attack started at 11:00 pm and ended the next morning. According to the last reports, one ammunition depot and two jets were destroyed by the fidayeen attackers who have also killed 35 security officials,” the statement read.
The coordinated fidayeen attacks on the Quetta airbases underscore the threat potential of Khurasani and the Sajna factions which is not limited to tribal belt.
Sajna faction has been engaged in running battles against the Sheharyar Mehsud faction (which was loyal to Hakeemullah Mehsud) for leadership of South Waziristan. It was their blood bath that had left 100 killed over two weeks that made Fazalullah to sack Sajna as the ameer of the South Waziristan, which in turn had hastened the first major split in TTP in the post- Hakeemullah Mehsud period. It was Hakeemullah’s to the helm of TTP. His action against Sajna did not get the endorsement of the Shura, which met in his absence to take stock of the situation. Has Fazlullah’s hold weakened? This is the question for which Pakistan media replies in the affirmative. But it need not necessarily be the last word.
– By malladi rama rao
