The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the banned umbrella of militant groups, has categorically said that it will not blindly support Pakistan if the US troops attacked the country.
In a telephone interview with BBC on Saturday, the group’s deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad also came down hard on the Pakistani government for, what he called, “its double game” in Afghanistan.
“Although Pakistan and the US are allies in the war against terrorism, they don’t trust each other. Instead, the two deceitful allies want to outsmart each other,” said Maulvi Faqir, who is also chief of the Bajaur chapter of TTP.
He said that the United States wanted to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, but Pakistan wanted to trap the American troops in the Afghan quagmire.
Referring to drone strikes in the tribal regions, the TTP deputy chief said that although the US was continuously infringing on Pakistan’s sovereignty. However, if the US sent ground troops into Pakistan, the TTP would not blindly support the government. “The decision will be taken by the TTP shura,” he added.
Maulvi Faqir blamed Pakistan’s “double standards” for the fluid security situation in Afghanistan. “Peace cannot be restored in Pakistan and Afghanistan unless the two neighbours learn to coexist with peace,” he added.
He said that attacks against the United States will decrease if it pulls out troops from the Islamic countries and called off its covert war in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
Maulvi Faqir strongly rejected the allegations that the TTP was now getting support from Afghan authorities and the US troops stationed across the Durand Line.
This is the first time that the Taliban have hinted that they would not side with Pakistan against any US aggression. In earlier statements, the group called the fight against the US as ‘jihad’.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (64)
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first of all we need to keep in mind that we are in no stage to fight a war with America. We need America as much as they need us. We should work together to eliminate militancy. Second of all, the statement issued by the Taliban's show us that they have no faith and they are two faced. they should be defeated for once and for all. Our basic aim should be to achieve global peace.
@huma:
With due respect, you or other Pakistani posters here do not really understand what TTP stands for. Their main goal is to establish an Islamic Caliphate in Pakistan. To them nationalism or Pakistan means nothing. They stand for a global Islamic Caliphate.
They used to cooperate with the Pakistani army until Musharraf raided Lal Masjid and killed several hundred women children there. Until then, they were supporters of the ISI and the army. As long as they think it helps their cause they will support anyone.
Pakistan Army surely knows what they are doing they dont need any help weather its TTP or CIA or FBI.
Good one Sarmad
Well its a very unknown fact that Pakistan is now avoiding a direct war with america, as they did with Sovet Union i think they are going to do the same with the Americans. On the other hand TTP will be eliminated as well.
@Shahryar Ahmed: Very true. No one in Pakistan knows who exactly these culprits are. They have taken refuge in religion and call themselves Taliban. They are petty thieves now labeled Taliban and Warlords. My God
@Shahbaz Younis: there lies the hidden truth.......
I would observe that if the USA wages war against Pakistan which side the TTP takes will not be a high priority.to anyone. Suicide bombers, AK's and RPG's don't have any effect on stealth bombers.
@Hamza Baloch "Stop mixing talban with TTP..Please!" . According to Wikipedia "Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (the TTP) (Urdu: تحریک طالبان پاکستان; Student Movement of Pakistan), alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban,". Use of the term Taliban in this article appears to be appropriate.
sorry my brothers and sisters...Pakistan army would certainly ask for a local support from TTP. There is no other option...but we should respect TTP's interests n firstly we would have to stop killing them. So that we can reconcile with them.
There is a civil war going on in Pakistan. Nobody knows which side will defect to which side. Can anybody please explain me the foreign policy of Pakistan? We are enemies to US, India, Afghanistan, Russia and finally to our own strategic assets.
TTP are on the Indian payroll and supported by their lackeys in Afghanistan to cause trouble in Pakistan. Why should they ever side with Pakistan when they have killed so many innocent civilians. These people were trained by the West to defeat the Soviets and now they cause trouble in Pak.
I would like an editorial on this statement by the experts in Tribune, it would be interesting how they read this now
Pakistan Army surely does not need the help of these throat slicers.
TTP is making it clear to the rulers and people of Pakistan that they have their own agenda and could go to any extent to achieve their goal ie rule the country by hook or crook.
TTP are terrorists, who the heck thinks they will ever help Pakistan ?
Oh i guess the title should have been 'CIA spokesperson Interviewed by BBC'
Pakistan is so confused they dont know which outfit to appease and who to fight. Using terrorists as strategic assets has backfired. Its a sad state of affairs. The whole world is against and doesnt trust Pakistan and this is not only the US, the West and India. I havent heard one so called muslim country come out and support Pakistan. Pakistan still tries to portray itself as the protector of islam and none of the other muslim countries give a **.
Pakistani people have been fed with so much lies over the years its impossible for them to think clearly. Its always about what happened in the past and that also their perception of the past that is true. The US and Pakistan were equally complicit in building the Taliban. The US provided funds and the Pakistani ISI and military provided training and this is FACT. Post 1990, the US left and Pakistan was left with the spoils of war to use these assets in Kashmir and keep its influence over Afghanistan. Now by blaming the US, Pakistan is not proved to be innocent. Pakistan needs to draw out a plan for the future and not try to portray itself as a global power that can talk back to the US (and also fight a war with the US if the situation arises) cause in the current situation it is imploding from within. It is delirium if a country cant prevent daily attacks but wants to take on the US that is many times stronger miltarily, strategicaly and economicaly despite a recession.
Only way forward is destroying the terror network and then the US will leave. The current path being adopted and tough talk to make the US leave the region will result in a huge mess in Pakistan.
Pakistan would have been stupid to even expect or accept these killers of Pakistanis and usurpers of Pakistani territories to pretend that they care for Pakistan's interest.
All is the binary game of interests, who is who and what is what….it’s all cold war since long…that brought destruction of humanity, culture and societies, corruption, crisis, dishonesty, selfishness, black propaganda and Injustice. Every one claim is Noble and innocent…but no one is fair and honest except some in real might be. So wait for the day (soon) the Almighty Allah will do true justice between the true and false, cruel and sufferer and will make clear who is who and what is what.
Ha ha ha so finally the evidence of CIA & RAW's love affair comes out. TTP is the precious child of mother RAW & father CIA while I think Karzai acted as the midwife. Should this come as any surprise? TTP caused havoc in PAK only. Did they ever attack any US forces? India is now starting to act like PAK of the 80's. After failing in Srilanka through the tamil tigers they are using so called mujahiddins like TTP to gain strategic depth. They should have rather used RSS , at least PAK uses true mujahiddins who actually targets the occupation forces while these coward TTP targets innocent women & children. This shows who the real sponsors of terrorism are and who really wants a destabilized Afganistan.
well duh how can indian agents side with Pakistan.
They have effectively declared war on Pakistan!
when these 'terrorists' give these phone interview why can't the calls just be traced ....
TTP was made withe blessings and support of the NEXUS OF EVIL, USA , ISRAEL & INDIA and definitely TTP will say what their masters want them to say. Pakistan should not forget MUKTI BAHNI in East Pakistan .Same tactics!!!
The TTP has no right to call Pakistan "deceitful". Pakistan is a front line state in the war against terror.
This article leaves me with more questions rather than answers
Let's agree with the fact. When the drone strikes kill innocent Pashtoons [Pakistanis] by the very US forces in the tribal region, we never come with the same enthusiasm of patriotism. Now when the US has turned against our beloved ISI who truly plays a 'double game' with militants; we are making commitments for raising weapons against the US. When the state does not care about you, how come would you care about it.
@commentators: If the Taliban says or does anything against the Pakistani government; they are CIA, MOSAD and RAW agents. When they secure our agency's interest in Afghanistan by killing Afghan National Army soldiers, police and Afghan civilians; we grant them the title of "Kuffar ke khilaf bar sar-i-pekar Mujahiddin'. I am tired of this double standard of our mindset. Please, lets accept that both group [TTP and Afghan TB] have nothing different in nature.
Maybe for once our military and intelligence will learn from the irrevocable blunders they have committed in the past.
The reason they would not side with Pakistan is that a weakened Pakistan is in their best interest. They will find it easier to make inroads into Pakistan where most of the population supports them anyway. They have always had their eyes set on Islamabad not the US. They along with others want to create a Terror Central.
This news clearly indicates who is whose veritable arm :)
The most important question is that from where does TTP get billions to fight war against standing army. When single bullet costs few hundred , launchers cost few thousand and the jeeps , petrol , paying the mercenaries , feeding there families once they are killed. It must be requiring a running finance of millions of ruppees a month. Why did they not ask him this simple question during the interview. Answer to this simplest question by Taliban would put Hindustan on defensive and the foreign policy of blaming Pakistan for every ill within Hindustan would stand naked.
It's TTI Tehrik e taliban India not Pakistan
Someone should tell TTP that it is their areas of Waziristan that US will be attacking, which Pakistan Army will guard. Simply goes to show that the CIA had not briefed them well to answer this one :)
The truth is coming out and they are spilling the beans themselves, because no matter what happens, when it comes to defending one's homeland all hatred and differences are set aside in the interest of defending the country. Pakistan is not the homeland of TTP's. It is as simple as that. Their killing of innocents is a valid proof, we don not have to go far to solve the riddle! Enough now, whilst TTP is a coward organisation, we are brave and courageous and Inshallah we will fight you till you all die or run back to where you come from begging them to save your damn life!!
Obviously they werent kiling thousands of people in national interest
* F A C T *** TTP is vertible arm of CIA keeping US interest in the region ( PAKISTAN).
crush hypocrite militants.
Take that APC
so if the US attacks Pakistan and they dont side with us, who are they with? why do they have "Pakistan" attached to their name? why was their group formed in the first place then? just to kill innocent pakistanis, ruin all business/investment in pakistan, and finish all security here. thats the thing to note. doesnt matter whose paying them. what matters is that they hate Pakistan and its sovreignity and that has been fully exposed. the truth finally comes out. anti-state traitors.
i am pakistani but i think they are justified.........i think americans are more good than our leadershp and army generals.....
That's because the TTP are a 'veritable arm' of the Indian government.
I hope nobody's surprised by terrorists not being dependable. As sad as it is that some people would have wanted them to be.
Sooner or later, atleast they have accepted they are not against US troops, if fighting against Pakistan, still they are in "Jihad against US"
I think the world should atleast now admit that "TTP is a veritable arm of US, and US should stop its proxy war in Pakistan"
This should be an eye-opener for IMRAN KHAN, JAMAAT-e-ISLAMI and all those retired generals who are supporting Taliban and calling them "true patriotic" people of Pakistan.
TTP is a band of thugs and an organ of the anti Pakistan countries. They have little to do with peace and stability of Pakistan. They are mercenaries, paid and armed by all the anti Pakistan countries including some allied countries. TTP sells blood, flesh and honor. They provide suicide bombers on payments to these countries. They are involved in blowing schools, markets, kidnappings and sense less killings. They will continue with their reprehensible and nefarious activities till the time they are paid, however they have been exposed and has lost the ideological support. They cannot cover their criminal activities behind the good name of religion
TTP my FOOT. you are the biggest enemy of Pakistan and Muslim Ummah.
TTP, we know you are Subsidiary of CIA & Raw
If US attacks Pakistan, Pakistan will be no more on the Map in its original form. TTP will also be running here and there at that time. What help can they do for Pakistan in those moments. However Pakistan will continue to exist as after East Pakistan now Bungla Desh. Remember all separatist of Pakistan either Sidhu Desh, or BLA free Baluchistan or Jinnah poor could not be materialized just because all these people are enjoying comfort of life living in Pakistan, even TTP.
*TTP is already on the pay roll of CIA and RAW, why should they side with Pakistan.* They have not shown mercy to small kids by killing them while they were on their way to schools, so expecting any loyalties will be futile. But, Yes, Allah will punish them for crimes against humanity.Insha Allah.
Why is this announcement by the TTP not surprising? After getting external support they are baring their teeth and making this bold talk. Salams
Look whose talking; these people are nothing but petty criminals & guns for hiring. These are not Pakistani's they have never seen themselves as Pakistani's. These are just mercenaries & smugglers (drug) nothing to do with Islam or Pakistan.
I am amazed at the gaul of this spokesperson for the bad Taliban to call Pakistan a 'deceitful ally'. Do you know how preposterous and revolting that insinuation is? Pakistan's forces have made the single largest contribution for the cause of global peace and security. No true Muslim could ever get involved in the kind of anti-Pakistan crimes this group of wanton criminals called the TTP has perpetrated.
Now, this TTP spokesperson has also joined the bandwagon of propagandists against Pakistan. Is it a secret anymore that this organization is acting as a veritable arm of the anti-Pakistan foreign forces?
Who cares TTP... you go to hell, we will take care of us or will die trying but will never shake hand with YOU - the killers of innocent Pakistanis.
This proves that TTP is vertible arm of CIA keeping US interest.
India is speaking, but in vain.
Thank god....................... it would be nice of them to mind their own business for once!
This is the first time that the Taliban have hinted that they would not side with Pakistan against any US aggression.
Stop mixing talban with TTP..Please!
I could not understand, why TTP or any other militant group talked to foreign media instead of their local media, and even though they are still unable to find them out.