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===Alliance with US, India and Israel===
===Alliance with US and India===

{{Refimprove|section|date=July 2009}}
It is widely believed within the Pakistani Military and Government that the TTP is being funded and supported by the US, Indian and Israeli Intelligence Agencies. The weapons seized from captured/killed TTP militants in Swat and other northern areas are of Indian, Israeli and US designs and that these militants are being trained in Afghanistan by R&AW and CIA agents to terrorize the Pakistani people. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-us-weapons-being-used-against-pak-forces-rs-05{{Failed verification}} These agencies are using the TTP to gain access to Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal through a massive covert operation called Operation 'Blue Tulsi'.{{fact}} In the July 2009 report by the Asian Tribune it has been reported that Baitullah Mehsud's TTP will be escorted by Indian and Israeli agents to strike one of Pakistan's key nuclear installations to create a false flag and thus pressurizing Pakistan through the international community to give up its nuclear programme as the nukes will not be secure. http://asiantribune.com/07/11/india-plans-to-attack-pakistani-nuclear-installations-using-baitullah-mehsud%E2%80%99s-gang/{{Verify credibility}}
It is widely believed within the Pakistani Military and Government that the TTP is being funded and supported by the US and Indian Intelligence Agencies. The weapons seized from captured/killed TTP militants in Swat and other northern areas are of Indian and US designs and that these militants are being trained in Afghanistan by R&AW and CIA agents to terrorize the Pakistani people. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-us-weapons-being-used-against-pak-forces-rs-05{{Failed verification}}. The Chief of Pakistan's ISI has summoned India's R&AW Chief for handling terrorist activites inside Pakistan through Afghanistan by using Baitullah Mehsud Group. http://www.daily.pk/7242/isi-summons-raw-chief-over-terrorism-in-pakistan/. This was done due to the dossier containing proof of R&AW's involvement given to Indian PM by the Pakistani PM in Sharm el Sheikh on July 16 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content
library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-the-raw-dossier-hs-02. In the July 2009 report by the Asian Tribune it has been reported that Baitullah Mehsud's TTP will be escorted by Indian agents to strike one of Pakistan's key nuclear installations to create a false flag and thus pressurizing Pakistan through the international community to give up its nuclear programme as the nukes will not be secure. http://asiantribune.com/07/11/india-plans-to-attack-pakistani-nuclear-installations-using-baitullah-mehsud%E2%80%99s-gang/{{Verify credibility}}


==Organizational Structure==
==Organizational Structure==

Revision as of 12:20, 24 July 2009

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (Urdu: تحريک طالبان پاکستان) (Students' Movement of Pakistan) is the main Taliban militant umbrella group in Pakistan primarily in conflict with the central government.[1][2] Among the group's stated objectives are resistance against the Pakistani army, enforcement of sharia and unification against NATO forces in Afghanistan.[2][3]

History

The TTP began to form when in 2002 the Pakistani military conducted incursions into the tribal areas to combat foreign militants spilling across the Afghan border.[2] Many of the Pakistani Taliban are veterans of the fighting in Afghanistan, where they supported the fight against foreigners by providing soldiers, training and logistics.[3] While the Pakistani military concentrated on the Afghan Taliban, small militant tribes opposed to the federal government's control began to coordinate closely. In 2004, the groups started negotiations with Islamabad that effectively established their authority in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). By this time, the militants had killed around 200 rival tribal elders in the region and further consolidated control. In December 2007 the group officially formed under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud.[1]

On August 25, 2008 Pakistan banned the group, froze its bank accounts and assets, and barred it from media appearances. The government also announced that bounties would be placed on prominent leaders of the TTP.[4]

In late December 2008 and early January 2009 Mullah Omar sent a delegation, led by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mullah Abdullah Zakir, to persuade leading members of the TTP to put aside differences, reduce hostilities with the Pakistani military and aid the Afghan Taliban in combating the American presence in Afghanistan.[3] Baitullah Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Maulavi Nazir agreed in February and formed the Shura Ittehadul Mujahideen (SIM), also transliterated as Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen and translated into English as the Council of United Mujahedeen.[3][5][6] In a written statement circulated in a one-page Urdu-language pamphlet, the three affirmed that they would put aside differences to fight American-led forces. The statement included a declaration of allegiance to both Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden.[3][5]

Alliance with US and India

It is widely believed within the Pakistani Military and Government that the TTP is being funded and supported by the US and Indian Intelligence Agencies. The weapons seized from captured/killed TTP militants in Swat and other northern areas are of Indian and US designs and that these militants are being trained in Afghanistan by R&AW and CIA agents to terrorize the Pakistani people. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/06-us-weapons-being-used-against-pak-forces-rs-05[failed verification]. The Chief of Pakistan's ISI has summoned India's R&AW Chief for handling terrorist activites inside Pakistan through Afghanistan by using Baitullah Mehsud Group. http://www.daily.pk/7242/isi-summons-raw-chief-over-terrorism-in-pakistan/. This was done due to the dossier containing proof of R&AW's involvement given to Indian PM by the Pakistani PM in Sharm el Sheikh on July 16 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-the-raw-dossier-hs-02. In the July 2009 report by the Asian Tribune it has been reported that Baitullah Mehsud's TTP will be escorted by Indian agents to strike one of Pakistan's key nuclear installations to create a false flag and thus pressurizing Pakistan through the international community to give up its nuclear programme as the nukes will not be secure. http://asiantribune.com/07/11/india-plans-to-attack-pakistani-nuclear-installations-using-baitullah-mehsud%E2%80%99s-gang/[unreliable source?]

Organizational Structure

Baitullah Mehsud, the amir, is followed in the leadership hierarchy by naib amir, or deputy, Maulana Hafiz Gul Bahadur and then Maulana Faqir Mohammed.[1] The group contains members from all of FATA's seven tribal agencies as well as several districts of the NWFP, including Swat, Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohistan, Buner and Malakand.[1] 2008 estimates place the total number of operatives between 30,000 and 35,000.[2]

Leaders

Supporters

Claimed and Alleged Attacks

  • The Pakistani government implicated the network in the December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto although the group denies the charge. The CIA also confirmed its belief of TTP's involvement in January 2008.
  • The Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariate-Mohammadi (TNSM) claimed responsibility for a December 23, 2007 suicide bombing targeting a military convoy on behalf of the TTP. The blast in the Mingora area of the Swat Valley killed five soldiers and six civilians.[1]
  • TTP claimed responsibility for the 23 July 2008 Swat Valley bombing.
  • TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar claimed that the group was responsible for August 21, 2008 suicide bomb attack on a military complex.
  • Someone using the name Abdur Rehman claimed that the TTP was behind a November 6, 2008 suicide bombing that targeted tribal elders, who had gathered in the Bajaur tribal area to discuss efforts to coordinate with the government against the Pakistani Taliban. The blast took the lives of 16 and injured 31.[10]
  • On November 13 2008, the TTP intercepted a military convoy along the Khyber Pass bound for NATO troops in Afghanistan.
  • In telephone interviews with news media Mehsud claimed responsibility for the March 30, 2009 attack on the police training academy in Lahore.[11][12] He told the BBC that the attack was in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American drones for which the Pakistani government shared responsibility. In the same interview Mehsud claimed two other attacks: a March 25 attack on an Islamabad police station and a March 30 suicide attack on a military convoy near Bannu.[11]
  • Mehsud claimed responsibility for the Binghamton shootings, stating that they were in retaliation for continued missile strikes from American drones. The FBI denied this claim and stated this was nothing to do with Massod[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Abbas, Hassan (January 2008). "A Profile of Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 1 (2). West Point, NY: Combating Terrorism Center: 1–4. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  2. ^ a b c d Bajoria, Jayshree (2008-02-06). "Pakistan's New Generation of Terrorists". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e Gall, Carlotta (2009-03-26). "Pakistani and Afghan Taliban Unify in Face of U.S. Influx". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Shahzad, Syed Saleem (2008-08-26). "Setback for Pakistan's terror drive". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2008-08-26. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b Khan, Haji Mujtaba (2009-02-23). "Taliban rename their group". The Nation. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  6. ^ "Three Taliban factions form Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahiden". The News. 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  7. ^ Yusufzai, Rahimullah (2008-11-30). "Hakimullah Mehsud unveils himself to media". The News International. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  8. ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib (2009-03-26). "Profile: Baitullah Mehsud". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-06-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Khan, Riaz (2009-06-08). "Pakistanis attack Taliban over mosque bombing". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  10. ^ Khan, Anwarullah (2008-11-06). "Bomber hits anti-militant tribal jirga; 16 dead". Dawn Media Group. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  11. ^ a b "Lahore 'was Pakistan Taleban op'". BBC News. 2009-03-31. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  12. ^ Ali, Mohammad Faisal (2009-03-31). "Baitullah claims responsibility for Manawan attack". Dawn Media Group. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  13. ^ "Pakistani Taliban chief Mehsud claims U.S. shooting". Thomson Reuters. April 4, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
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