Pakistan Taliban set up ‘jihad cell’ in Syria

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed umbrella of militant groups blamed for most violence in Pakistan, has set up a special cell in Syria to coordinate the ongoing ‘jihad’ against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, reports the BBC Urdu.

“The cell has been established with the help of the Arab fighters who had fought in Afghanistan and have now moved to Syria to take part in the jihad,” a Taliban official told the BBC Urdu. “In the last two months, around 12 information technology experts have moved to Syria.”

Pakistani authorities have refused to comment on the revelation.

According to the Pakistan-based militant groups, the majority Sunni population in Syria has been subjected to oppression by the minority Alawite regime of Bashar al Assad.

The coordinating official of the cell, Muhammad Amin, told the BBC that the cell was set up six months ago “in order to keep a watch on the ongoing jihad”. The cell shares information regarding the Syrian conflict with Pakistan-based militants.

According to Muhammad Amin, the Taliban’s Syrian friends, who had helped them in the ‘Afghan jihad’ now help the people running the cell. “The cell assesses the needs of Syrian jihad and offers help in joint operations.” He added that dozens of fighters in Pakistan were ready to take part in the war in Syria.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2013.