Hakimullah Mehsud. PHOTO:FILE
In a rare television interview, the TTP leader told the BBC that the government should have made the peace talks announcement and called a jirga, as per convention instead of handing over responsibilities to the media.
Mehsud said that the Taliban were ready for peace talks and if serious attempts at negotiations were made, the Taliban would reciprocate.
"If a jirga nominated by the government comes to us, we will ensure its security," he said, adding that the TTP were not going to start negotiating with the government through the media.
"We don't want to talk through the media. Neither do we want to listen to the government's conditions through the media nor do we want to present our conditions via media."
US Withdrawal from Afghanistan
With many believing that the 2014 US withdrawal from Afghanistan could deflate the militant movements, Mehsud said that the situation in drawdown will not have any affect on Pakistani Taliban and they will continue to carry out their activities.
"We carry our fight in Pakistan for two reasons. One reason is that Pakistan is friends with America and at the behest of America, Pakistan has killed ulema and destroyed madrassas," he said.
He said that the other reason for their fight against Pakistan was the prevalent "non-Islamic" system in the country.
Drones
The TTP leader reiterated that if America agreed to stop drone strikes, the Taliban would also stop their fight.
He said that that they were aware of the appeals of ulema who want them to stop the war.
"But in the case of us ending the war, we also want a stop to drone strikes. If drone strikes are stopped, we will be ready to stop our jihad."
Blasts in public spaces
The TTP leader, who carries a $5 million bounty on his head, disowned the recent blasts in public spaces. "Other agencies are involved in that."
"The purpose of the blasts is to misguide the people against Taliban, so that the people who support us can stop doing so."
Mehsud said that the TTP have distanced themselves from such blasts before and will do so again.
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But in the case of us ending the war, we also want a stop to drone strikes. If drone strikes are stopped, we will be ready to stop our jihad.”
having read the statement,a question arising out in the common man's brain whether jehad is attributed to the drones attacks only but according to mind jehad is affiliated with Afghanistan freedom,totally independence is required to stop the jehad.
We carry our fight in Pakistan for two reasons. One reason is that Pakistan is friends with America and at the behest of America, Pakistan has killed ulema and destroyed madrassas
Pakistan is a independent state,and its democraticcally elected leadership remaining within constitutional domain can have bilateral relations with any country.
He said that the other reason for their fight against Pakistan was the prevalent “non-Islamic” system in the country.
pakistan's contitution,prepared by whole nations's representaives grant no permission to make any law which is against the fundamental principle of Islam.
But in the case of us ending the war, we also want a stop to drone strikes. If drone strikes are stopped, we will be ready to stop our jihad.”
It mean jehad is affiliated with drones????????????????????
@jin baba:
According to Hamid Karzai, Afhan President, the NATO supples are being dropped in the territory not controlled by Afghan military but the Talibans!! He was also informed by Mr Obama that the USA has nothing against the Talibans but AlQaeda and their affiliates which number around 100!! Mr Karzai is realy confused and has a simple question, " what were the USA and NATO troops doing in the past decade, just causing the deaths of Afghan Pashtuns fmilies?
Perhaps Pakistan Prime Minister will have the answer when he meets Mr Obama at month end?
Rex Minor
@Umair:
How?
Rex Minor
PTI stands firm on its stance to have dialogue with Talibans.This is really a cogent solution to work out terror present across Pak Afghan border.
As it wil provide platform to share each other’s concerns ,resolve discrepancies, remove undeserved misgivings and do collective decision making. The terror of Talibans has not only ruined peace in Pakistan but also has defamed image of Muslims around the globe.The over thought and over discussed solution ie Military operation can not help as it would further aggravate he hatered in Afghans/ Talibans which was induced when Pakistan broke into US war against Afghanistan.Now again a military operation? Two wrongs do not make one right.Moreover for a long time Military was used against Talibans and it has not actually curbed terrorism. Gospel Truth!
The why not go for peace not war? Why not prevail peace not ignite or further spur war? The war whether between Muslim countries or non Muslim and a Muslim country only makes human beings suffer,it only leads to crippled, handicapped victims and funerals and mutilated bodies and obliterated places.
but we need 2 work out our mistakes@Go Zardari Go!!:
@Mj:
Its amazing how we even superstitiously hesitate to name, condemn or hold them accountable for so many atrocities, even rationalizing and defending these monsters on their insane grievances and demands, while they have no issue in owning those crimes of slaughter and judging, accusing, labelling, condemning and finally killing the rest of us off.
There is a precedent of Khawarijites in Islamic history and how they were viewed as a cancer that needed to be eradicated. While I rather Pakistanis did not delude themselves in religious nationalist narratives for a solution when humanitarian common sense would do, it astounds me that self-proclaimed believers or practitioners have ceded their beliefs to these murdering criminals. No greater defamation of one's own religion than this, as right wing conservative extremist sympathizers and supporters like to hypocritically claim or accuse others of.
People living in Kpk and almost all other wants peace, no more deaths of our army, women, children, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, (all innocent) whether by ttp or drone. Tried military now if Govt. trying it through talks should do it seriously, so far blind should consider the sovereignty of Pakistan(from both ttp and drone).
@Waseem: What would you say if I said Pakistan created them.
He says he won't make demands through media,and does exactly the same in the same breath.
This defies logic. If they are peaceful people, and have not been targeting innocents, then what it's the point of talking to them? According to Imran khan, the purpose of talks is to stop bloodbath in Pakistan. If these peace loving people are not doing it then how talking to them will change anything. And if they are indeed behind the bloodshed, but they publicly deny it, then can they be trusted. Finally what about their horrific crimes. Imran Khan wants to give them blanket immunity, which is against Islam as well as the law of the land.
@Beyg With your explaination on why one shd hold talks with TTP, you too sound like a Fool...
This Land of Tthe Pure is soon gonna overflow 'cause of too many fools, than it can hold.
"Mehsud added: "We have targeted those who are with the infidels, America, and we will continue to target them."
These takfeeri ideologues have branded all of us who do not subscribe to their violent interpretation as apostates, and have already killed 40,000+ people, including brave soldiers. It cannot be any more clear that the bloodshed of Pakistanis-- whether they are Brelvis, mainstream Sunnis, Ahmedis, Christians, Shias and others will continue as it has under one pretense or the other.
When you want ur comment not to he published, it defntly gets published... Wah, what a moderation
We knew people in The Land of Pure are idiots... Just realised that there's no limit
@Beyg Hope a reply to your comment i posted a few min back, wont get published... Else, you'll think I m some kinda idiot
@numbersnumbers
Did Imran Khan not tell you... Drones are responsible for all the killings... He sd it is some kinda cycle... Drone kills one, his family kills many...
Damn, those many who are killed, their family dont take revenge... Cause they think Imran Khan is responsible to deliver justice to them... But Alas, Imran is busy in studying the cycle of drones and killings... He's lose.
@Beyg Yeah, "Thinks"... sounds good to me, if ttp is taken as an entity
@bangash
If one reads some of the comments above and many that'll soon appear below...
And then Voila, may be TTP is absolutely right. Pakistanis indeed are a pack of Fools.
@bangash If one reads some of the comments above and many that'll soon appear below... And Voila, may be TTP is absolutely right. Pakistanis indeed are a pack of Fools.
Can we send a few barbers before the initiation of peace talks? In the BBC interview, the proud Talibs look like neanderthals from the paleolithic era with guns.
@bangash: A few hours on the comment section here would confirm their judgement. It's no longer surprising to see supposedly well-educated people spouting nonsense, misinformation, and silliest conspiracy theories.
@Last Word: BTW, just WHO (if not your beloved TTP) is responsible for slaughtering the some 30,000 plus Pakistanis (and probably maiming twice that number) over the last decade??? Pleeeeze tell us so we will not have "a very wrong opinion on Taliban" as you suggest!!
The Federal Government of Pakistan shall take immediate measures to begin the peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban group, who were earlier mentored by the military establishment of Pakistan.
This is very important for India because a unstable neighbour can cause future disturbances to tranquility in India. Please take corrective actions and live in peace dear friends.
@bangash:
Its true that most pakistanis are packs of fools
Is pakistani awam ever gonna wake up? Taliban is CIA in disguise! Wake up!
Their statements are logicless and they expcet us to believe that? All of the reasons to fight in Pak are because of US yet they dont fight US-explain that.
Taliban is US in disguise who want war and violence to continue in Pakistan
Pakistani public is extremely against drone attacks. It has been proven through numerous polls. Still, these thugs blow the same people up for "supporting" the government. And then with this level of intelligence, they have the audacity to tell us that the second reason they attack us all the time is becasue we have a "non-islamic system" so we deserve to die painful deaths. Imagine, according to this logic, what kind of deaths these thugs deserve to die because they call themselves muslims and still do all this? There is only one language they understand. What a waste of space these people are.
They are simply a gang of criminals, murderers, extortionists with homicidal behavior. They were set free from jail in Afghanistan and from Pakistan and unleashed on the people of this country. In other words they are simply hired assassins. They just cannot survive without the money being poured from our borders. They have blown apart mosques, madrasas, imambarghas, churches, markets but have never blown and bombed any symbol of western powers. It doesn't requires much wisdom to know who are behind them and why.
TTP has 2 reasons for war against Pakistan .First reason that Pakistan is friends with US,this thing should be worked out and we should come out of US's war. The other reason is very much intricated and debatable. ie which system to implement in Pakistan.Firstly this is not the right way to bring Islamic system in Pakistan.TTP should understand that killing innocent people can only create hatred and Islam is a religion of peace.Therefore,dialogues with TTP is a must.
TTP has 2 reasons for war against Pakistan .First reason that Pakistan is friends with US,this thing should be worked out and we should come out of US's war. The other reason is very much intricated and debatable. ie which system to implement in Pakistan.Firstly this is not the right way to bring Islamic system in Pakistan.TTP should understand that killing innocent people can only create hatred and Islam is a religion of peace.Therefore talks with TTP is a must.
TTP thinks Pakistanis are a pack of fools.
@always learning: I agree with you 100 %. Cowards who attack innocent women, children and other citizens should only be served justice. They have lost any right to call for discussions or negotiations. The TTP are playing games for anti state agencies so the last thing the government should do is deal with these criminals. The fact that they want talks only shows how weak they are because everyone in the country hates them.
Mehsud said that the situation in drawdown will not have any affect on Pakistani Taliban and they will continue to carry out their activities.
There goes the fallacious "when USA withdraws from Afghanistan, all will be good" argument made famous by Imran Khan. In-fact American drawdown will give Taliban smell blood and will serve only to reinvigorate their fight against Pakistani state. Good luck fighting them when their brethren will rule on the other side of the border providing them sanctuary and bases to launch attacks on Pakistan. Wonder IK will be here then or with his children in UK?
There is a famous Winston Churchill quote (The man who stood up to Hitler when many in UK were in the appeasing mode coming up with various arguments to justify German aggression) "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
"We don’t want to talk through the media. Neither do we want to listen to the government’s conditions through the media nor do we want to present our conditions via media."
He said while talking to the media....
These despicable and depraved criminals just admitted that they approved of the attack on the Christian church. And again reiterated that they would target school girl Malala Yousufzai....again to make sure she's dead. They've murdered plenty of Ulema and bombed plenty of madrassas (like every type of school) and masjids themselves, way before any drone strikes, like the one that killed Baitullah Mehsud.
These hypocritical liars are counting on the Pakistani public's derangement about 'unknown agencies' to let them off the hook for all those public blasts, that have maimed men, women and children, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, that they and their militant extremist terrorist franchises carried out. Unfortunately they will get sympathy, and outright support from the Pak public and leadership who'll buy their excuses to convinces themselves that these monsters who claim to share their beliefs aren't cruel.
I request the media to not cover this BBC interview. By sponsoring murder of thousands of Pakistanis, Mr. Mehsud has become a known enemy of the Pakistan state not of Britain. Giving him time on TV is even worse. It lends dignity to a vicious person and accords him the treatment given to politicians. I request that his direct statements not be covered, please. In a personal way too, it is revolting to see him mentioned in quotes or on TV.
All Pakistanis have formed a very wrong opinion on Taliban since they never never carried out at least these recent blasts so they should be treated as holiest of the holy. They are ready for talks anytime time after Pakistan dumps America and drone attacks are stopped. Go Pakistan go, this is such a small price to buy peace as well as test their intent.
What a stupid reason it is. TTP ideology is getting weak with every passing day. All we need is to unite ourselves. God willing, Pakistan will witness peace and prosperity in times to come.
the amount of damage they have done to Pakistan and people of Pakistan makes them enemy no. 1, who has no faith, no dignity and no respect for the humanity.
It has been months since the new governments (national/provincial) took over and nothing has been seen-either militarily or in terms of peace talks...I am sure that next 5 years will be the same,as the previous 5 years.
So IK was right all along it appears. No drones = no (or minimal) terrorism.
Taliban were ready for peace talks and if serious attempts at negotiations were made, the Taliban would reciprocate, “We don’t want to talk through the media. Neither do we want to listen to the government’s conditions through the media nor do we want to present our conditions via media.” “If a Jirga nominated by the government comes to us, we will ensure its security,” Blasts in public spaces. “Other agencies are involved in that.”, If drone strikes are stopped, we will be ready to stop our jihad.”, if America agreed to stop drone strikes, the Taliban would also stop their fight, Pakistan is friends with America and at the behest of America, Pakistan has killed ulema and destroyed madrassas,” and “non-Islamic” system in the country.
"“We carry our fight in Pakistan for two reasons. One reason is that Pakistan is friends with America and at the behest of America, Pakistan has killed ulema and destroyed madrassas,” he said.'
So the Taliban retaliate for a made-up charge by blowing up mosques, schools, hospitals and marketplaces and military facilities.
"“The purpose of the blasts is to misguide the people against Taliban, so that the people who support us can stop doing so.”
Is Taliban a peaceful group? Have they not cheerfully accepted responsibility for countless attacks?
Despite the delusions on display, I would hope that the peacetalks go ahead, and led lead to the end of this menace, whether the talks succeed or not.