| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan Taliban commander vows to expand fight |
| 2010-09-30 |
| [Dawn] A top Pakistain Taliban capo has reaffirmed his group's ties to al Qaeda, vowing to fight for imposition of Islamic law across the world, according to a video interview made available to Rooters. The purported remarks by Wali-ur-Rehman, the commander of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) in South Wazoo, underlined the persistent efforts of the group to raise its profile beyond Pakistain where it has carried out a deadly wave of attacks. "Al Qaeda is a global organisation with branches spread all over the world, whether it is Arab countries, Europe, America or the subcontinent," Rehman said, sitting on the floor flanked by two bodyguards. A Kalashnikov lay at his feet. "Many organisations are attached to it. We totally agree with their ideology and their agenda," he said. "We will expand this war during the next 10 years," he added. The interview was conducted by a Pak news hound in North Wazoo working for a foreign journalist, who gave the video exclusively to Rooters. An expert on turban videos said that Rehman's comments show the TTP's growing global ambitions and that it should be taken seriously. "Wali-ur-Rehman's repeated point that the TTP is interested in establishing shariah globally and not just in Pakistain underscores the threat posed by the TTP in the US and Europe," said Ben Venzke, CEO of IntelCenter in Washington, who confirmed the man speaking was Rehman. "TTP can no longer be considered a localised threat actor." On Sept 1, US prosecutors charged TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud in a plot that killed seven CIA employees at an American base in Afghanistan last December. Mehsud, believed to be hiding in the tribal areas of Pakistain, was also charged with conspiracy to kill Americans overseas and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. The TTP was named a foreign terrorist organisation and $5 million bounties placed on Mehsud and Rehman. Rehman, a close associate of Mehsud, told the interviewer that Osama bin Laden was alive, and continuing to direct operations. "I can say with confidence and authenticity that he is alive and very active and keeps contacts with his close aides and gives them instructions," he says in the video. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the US believes bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders to be hiding in northwest Pakistain. RECENT VIDEO The TTP has made several threats against American and European targets, but the group has so far failed to carry out any overseas attacks. The attempt by Pakistain-American Faisal Shahzad to bomb Times Square who was linked to the TTP was the closest the group came to succes. In the 65-minute interview, Rehman mentions Pakistain's recent massive floods, and sends holiday greetings and sympathy to the people of Pakistain, suggesting the video was shot in August or early September. The journalist said Rehman covers his head with a blanket when outside to evade the high-resolution cameras on the constantly circling unmanned US aerial drones, which have killed almost 100 Islamic fascisti in September alone. There was no way to confirm Rehman's security precautions. During the interview, the journalist said, two drones orbited overhead, but did not attack. The drones are a boon to his group, Rehman said, because the anger they fueled helped bring more recruits to their cause. "Because of these dronezaps, many people from around the world come to join us," he said. "On the one hand, we lost a lot because of these dronezaps. On the other hand we keep on receiving our sympathisers form different nations." There has been media speculation in Britain that the recent upsurge in dronezaps in Pakistain was aimed at disrupting specific plots against European cities. Rehman said there were "at least" 2,500 fighters in South Wazoo tying down the Pak Army, and about 18,000 TTP fighters across the whole country. "We are sure, God willing, we would defeat the Mighty Pak Army one day. ... They have imposed an American war on us. Instead of conquering Kashmir, they are trying to conquer us." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 lets see... so if we dronezap you, you say more dupes are recruited so you can continue to try and take over the world. And if we don't dronezap you, you will continue to try to take over the world. hmmm I like choice number one. Only I would increase dronezaps by a multiples of 100. Even dupes can be persuaded not to throw away their lives. |
| Posted by: Mike Hunt 2010-09-30 23:18 |
| #1 Translation, I'll fight TO THE DEATH. (Why are you grinning?, Hmmm perhaps I should rephrase that?) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2010-09-30 05:12 |