Cracks appear: TTP braces against militant offensive in Mohmand
TTP warn of combined offensive on its bases by Afghan Taliban backed banned outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba, Ansarul Islam.
TTP warn of "bloodshed" if militants attack their bases. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani Taliban Saturday accused two other banned organisations ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’ and ‘Ansarul Islam’ for planning a massive attack on their bases and supporters in Mohmand region.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed on Saturday that their rival groups are also using the name of the Afghan Taliban for their planned offensive.
In a telephone call to The Express Tribune, Ehsan said that the two banned groups have entered into alliance with the local anti-Taliban ‘lashkar’ (militia) to target bases of the banned TTP militant group.
“We will fight back and there would be bloodshed,” the TTP spokesperson warned.
Asked as to why the two groups have decided to launch the attack, the TTP spokesperson explained that the two groups harboured an old rivalry with the militant group.
Ehsan claimed he was seriously concerned at the impressions given by his rivals that the Afghan Taliban have joined the groups in the fight against TTP.
“We hope that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will realise the conspiracy of the TTP rivals,” Ehsan hoped. The TTP uses the term Islamic Emirate, a term used by the Afghan Taliban when referring to themselves.
“We have shown allegiance to the Islamic Emirate and accept their leadership and if they have any complaint we are ready to satisfy them,” the TTP spokesperson claimed.
Afghan Taliban distance themselves from TTP
Two Afghan Taliban officials, when contacted, though distanced themselves from the TTP and said they do not want to be involved in any fighting outside Afghanistan.
“We are fighting the foreign forces and their local backers in Afghanistan and have never been involved in any activity in any other country,” the Taliban officials said on the condition of anonymity.
Lashkar-e-Taiba, who have been time and again been blamed for militant actions in India, rejected the TTP claim of organising against them and said the group focuses its activities to the Indian-held Kashmir.
"We neither work in Afghanistan nor Pakistani tribal regions. We do not have any links with any group in the tribal regions,” Abdullah Ghaznavi, a Lashkar-e-Taiba spokesperson told The Express Tribune via phone from undisclosed location.
Pakistani Taliban Saturday accused two other banned organisations ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’ and ‘Ansarul Islam’ for planning a massive attack on their bases and supporters in Mohmand region.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed on Saturday that their rival groups are also using the name of the Afghan Taliban for their planned offensive.
In a telephone call to The Express Tribune, Ehsan said that the two banned groups have entered into alliance with the local anti-Taliban ‘lashkar’ (militia) to target bases of the banned TTP militant group.
“We will fight back and there would be bloodshed,” the TTP spokesperson warned.
Asked as to why the two groups have decided to launch the attack, the TTP spokesperson explained that the two groups harboured an old rivalry with the militant group.
Ehsan claimed he was seriously concerned at the impressions given by his rivals that the Afghan Taliban have joined the groups in the fight against TTP.
“We hope that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will realise the conspiracy of the TTP rivals,” Ehsan hoped. The TTP uses the term Islamic Emirate, a term used by the Afghan Taliban when referring to themselves.
“We have shown allegiance to the Islamic Emirate and accept their leadership and if they have any complaint we are ready to satisfy them,” the TTP spokesperson claimed.
Afghan Taliban distance themselves from TTP
Two Afghan Taliban officials, when contacted, though distanced themselves from the TTP and said they do not want to be involved in any fighting outside Afghanistan.
“We are fighting the foreign forces and their local backers in Afghanistan and have never been involved in any activity in any other country,” the Taliban officials said on the condition of anonymity.
Lashkar-e-Taiba, who have been time and again been blamed for militant actions in India, rejected the TTP claim of organising against them and said the group focuses its activities to the Indian-held Kashmir.
"We neither work in Afghanistan nor Pakistani tribal regions. We do not have any links with any group in the tribal regions,” Abdullah Ghaznavi, a Lashkar-e-Taiba spokesperson told The Express Tribune via phone from undisclosed location.