(AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - Pakistani Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud's opponent faction in North Waziristan announced on Friday the creation of a new parallel organisation, called Muqami Tehrik-i-Taliban or local Taliban, effectively splitting from Mehsud's Tehrik-i-Taliban.The announcement was made by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a top Pakistani militant from North Waziristan and former lieutenant under Mehsud. Bahadur also said that a decision by a 'shura' or consultation council said that attacks against Pakistani security forces only weaken the cause of the Afghan resistance against foreign forces. Instead, militants can focus on fighting against NATO troops in Afghanistan, said the council.
It is said that the Tehrik-i-Taliban movement fell apart due to Mehsud's violent policies against the Pakistani security forces. However, Gul Bahadur remained a silent spectator and entered into a peace agreement with the Pakistani government in January 2008 after a long conflict which left over 100 members of the security forces dead. Badahur also announced on Friday that he would not break the peace agreement reached with the government.
The announcement takes place a day after six people were killed and five others were injured during air strikes by suspected US spy drones on the village of Sam, believed to be the headquarters of Mehsud - Pakistan's most wanted militant. Mehsud, 35, reportedly suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease. Earlier this month rumours of his death were circulating. However, he rapidly recovered and celebrated his second marriage to a young girl from Mehsud's Shabikhel tribe.
Mehsud was believed to have been responsible for the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was killed in December last year when she returned to Pakistan from exile.