sohailbutt
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2008
- Messages
- 653
- Reaction score
- 0
PESHAWAR: His name is on the terrorist A-list and nary an attack goes by in Pakistan without his name mentioned somewhere in the aftermath. For his part, Taliban commander, warlord and media-savvy but unphotographed Baitullah Mehsud has said he was the force behind the deadly ambush on the Lahore police training centre this Monday. But who is Baitullah Mehsud and what does he want? Where is he located and who is likely to be his next target?
The chief of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, hails from the tribal area of Waziristan. The 39-year old belongs to the district Shakh Baromi Khel’s Shabikhel. He received his religious instruction at a seminary in Waziristan and subscribes to the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam point of view. Mehsud was at the forefront of the Taliban’s fight after the American invasaion. But he gained prominence after the Taliban government fell.
When local extremists banded after Nek Mohammad in Waziristan, Baitullah stepped up in the Mehsud tribal area. In 2004, he began to use guerrilla tactics after the Pakistan Army entered the Mehsud area after the Wana operation. In February 2005, he entered into a deal with the government in return for which he was pardoned but the army had to leave the area. Experts on the tribal areas felt that for two years Baitullah took full advantage of the lull brought by the deal.
During this time, his force multiplied in to the thousands and dozens of young men lined up as suicide bombers. Once he had complete control of this area, he pushed through his own system of justice along with Shariat or Islamic law. Tank, Dera Ismail Khan were next on the list as land to be conquered.
Much like Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Baitullah Mehsud is against. In addition to Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqani, Baitullah stays in touch with other commanders. The governments of Pakistan and the United States of America have both accused him of harbouring al Qaeda and Taliban members. Baitullah Mehsud has said in different interviews that he was involved in the attacks on the NATO and American forces in Afghanistan and that he intended to pick up the pace in the future. The government of Pakistan has pointed at Baitullah Mehsud for the slew of suicide bombings that took place after the Red Mosque fiasco in Islamabad.
In December 2007, Baitullah managed to unite the different active Taliban fighters in the tribal areas and parts of the NWFP. This new outfit called itself Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan or as it is more commonly known, TTP. As expected, Baitullah became the ameer or chief of the outfit. With this development came an intensification of Taliban attacks in Swat, Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency and Dara’Adam Khel.
The government of Pakistan blamed Baitullah at one point for Benazir Bhutto’s assasination but later denied it. Subsequently, however, Baitullah’s deputy Qari Hussain claimed the TTP’s signature on suicide bombings in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Dera Ismail Khan. At the start of this year, Baitullah wooed two Taliban factions who were initially against him and they formed the Shura-e Ittehad-ul Mujahideen with the purpose of picking up attacks in Afghanistan. This was when US missile attacks accelerated in his turf and a five million dollar bounty was tagged for him. The Americans vowed to either arrest or kill him. For his part, Baitullah has vowed that he will continue his ‘jihad’ until occupying forces leave Afghanistan. It is generally accepted that he is in Waziristan but he contacts the media when he wants to and not the other way around.
SAMAA conducted an exclusive interview with him to learn more:
The interview was conducted over the phone on Tuesday, March 31. Excerpts are given below, translated from the Urdu.
SAMAA: There have been reports that your organization is claiming responsibility for the attack on the Manawan police training centre in Lahore on Monday, March 30. What do you have to say about this?
BAITULLAH MEHSUD: This incident that happened yesterday [Monday] we don’t just claim responsibility for it, we also claim responsibility for the suicide attack on the Special Branch office near Sitara Market in Islamabad, Pakistan; we did the one in Bannu as well... And the attack on the training centre yesterday, we did that too, Alhamdolillah [God be praised]. And this was our revenge for the drone attacks in the tribal areas, north and south Waziristan… And we will do this in the future as well, Insha’Allah [God willing].
SAMAA: You have said that this was an act of revenge. What are your demands?
BM: For now, we have no demands. This was an act of retaliation; so far we are just retaliating.
SAMAA: Another name has come to the front; the Fidayeen-e Islam [Those who lose themselves in the love for God/Islam] has also taken responsibility for this attack. Is this group a part of your organization or is it separate?
BM: I cannot say anything about this.
SAMAA: The US administration has announced head money for you and it has said it will try to arrest or kill you. What would you say about that?
BM: There is no punishment for this [refers to revenge], because they are killing us. This, according to us, is martyrdom. In this world, the amount of love we have for martyrdom we have for nothing else. So, what, America will give us martyrdom? That will be our success. And Insha’Allah we will take revenge from the Americans as well. That will not be done in Pakistan. It will be in Washington, the White House. In your minds, the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan can’t take revenge from America. The thought/possibility doesn’t enter your minds, but Insha’Allah, you will see concrete results/action. We will take revenge for American acts in America.
SAMAA: Several outfits, including your own, have banded together as one group, the Shura-e Ittehad-ul Mujahideen [Cabinet of United Freedom Fighters]. What is the basic purpose of this outfit?
BM: Its basic purpose is this… there is opposition here. [Indistinct]… In Wana, Waziristan, Mehsud areas there was no unity in the mujahideen [freedom fighters]. We thought since one group of non-believers is teaming up with America …then we sat and decided among ourselves. When the kufr [infidels] have united, we thought why not us as well.
SAMAA: Where will you act? In Pakistan or Afghanistan?
BM: No, no… [laughs] … they will be in Pakistan and in Afghanistan.
SAMAA: There is the concern that as action is taken in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the US will have the opportunity to enter and act in Pakistan?
BM: [Recites lines from the Qur’an in Arabic]. It is God’s edict that you should not be afraid and not shy from taking action. As you are a believer you will be successful. We do not fear. We believe that only God is the superpower, not America.
SAMAA: So far no one has taken responsibility for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team or the Jamrud mosque attack. The government was blaming you. What would you say about that?
BM: I harshly condemn the attack on the Jamrud mosque but as far as the Sri Lanka attack is concerned, I cannot say anything about that.
ENDS
.:: SAMAA - The rise of Baitullah Mehsud: a SAMAA exclusive
The chief of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, hails from the tribal area of Waziristan. The 39-year old belongs to the district Shakh Baromi Khel’s Shabikhel. He received his religious instruction at a seminary in Waziristan and subscribes to the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam point of view. Mehsud was at the forefront of the Taliban’s fight after the American invasaion. But he gained prominence after the Taliban government fell.
When local extremists banded after Nek Mohammad in Waziristan, Baitullah stepped up in the Mehsud tribal area. In 2004, he began to use guerrilla tactics after the Pakistan Army entered the Mehsud area after the Wana operation. In February 2005, he entered into a deal with the government in return for which he was pardoned but the army had to leave the area. Experts on the tribal areas felt that for two years Baitullah took full advantage of the lull brought by the deal.
During this time, his force multiplied in to the thousands and dozens of young men lined up as suicide bombers. Once he had complete control of this area, he pushed through his own system of justice along with Shariat or Islamic law. Tank, Dera Ismail Khan were next on the list as land to be conquered.
Much like Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Baitullah Mehsud is against. In addition to Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqani, Baitullah stays in touch with other commanders. The governments of Pakistan and the United States of America have both accused him of harbouring al Qaeda and Taliban members. Baitullah Mehsud has said in different interviews that he was involved in the attacks on the NATO and American forces in Afghanistan and that he intended to pick up the pace in the future. The government of Pakistan has pointed at Baitullah Mehsud for the slew of suicide bombings that took place after the Red Mosque fiasco in Islamabad.
In December 2007, Baitullah managed to unite the different active Taliban fighters in the tribal areas and parts of the NWFP. This new outfit called itself Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan or as it is more commonly known, TTP. As expected, Baitullah became the ameer or chief of the outfit. With this development came an intensification of Taliban attacks in Swat, Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency and Dara’Adam Khel.
The government of Pakistan blamed Baitullah at one point for Benazir Bhutto’s assasination but later denied it. Subsequently, however, Baitullah’s deputy Qari Hussain claimed the TTP’s signature on suicide bombings in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore and Dera Ismail Khan. At the start of this year, Baitullah wooed two Taliban factions who were initially against him and they formed the Shura-e Ittehad-ul Mujahideen with the purpose of picking up attacks in Afghanistan. This was when US missile attacks accelerated in his turf and a five million dollar bounty was tagged for him. The Americans vowed to either arrest or kill him. For his part, Baitullah has vowed that he will continue his ‘jihad’ until occupying forces leave Afghanistan. It is generally accepted that he is in Waziristan but he contacts the media when he wants to and not the other way around.
SAMAA conducted an exclusive interview with him to learn more:
The interview was conducted over the phone on Tuesday, March 31. Excerpts are given below, translated from the Urdu.
SAMAA: There have been reports that your organization is claiming responsibility for the attack on the Manawan police training centre in Lahore on Monday, March 30. What do you have to say about this?
BAITULLAH MEHSUD: This incident that happened yesterday [Monday] we don’t just claim responsibility for it, we also claim responsibility for the suicide attack on the Special Branch office near Sitara Market in Islamabad, Pakistan; we did the one in Bannu as well... And the attack on the training centre yesterday, we did that too, Alhamdolillah [God be praised]. And this was our revenge for the drone attacks in the tribal areas, north and south Waziristan… And we will do this in the future as well, Insha’Allah [God willing].
SAMAA: You have said that this was an act of revenge. What are your demands?
BM: For now, we have no demands. This was an act of retaliation; so far we are just retaliating.
SAMAA: Another name has come to the front; the Fidayeen-e Islam [Those who lose themselves in the love for God/Islam] has also taken responsibility for this attack. Is this group a part of your organization or is it separate?
BM: I cannot say anything about this.
SAMAA: The US administration has announced head money for you and it has said it will try to arrest or kill you. What would you say about that?
BM: There is no punishment for this [refers to revenge], because they are killing us. This, according to us, is martyrdom. In this world, the amount of love we have for martyrdom we have for nothing else. So, what, America will give us martyrdom? That will be our success. And Insha’Allah we will take revenge from the Americans as well. That will not be done in Pakistan. It will be in Washington, the White House. In your minds, the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan can’t take revenge from America. The thought/possibility doesn’t enter your minds, but Insha’Allah, you will see concrete results/action. We will take revenge for American acts in America.
SAMAA: Several outfits, including your own, have banded together as one group, the Shura-e Ittehad-ul Mujahideen [Cabinet of United Freedom Fighters]. What is the basic purpose of this outfit?
BM: Its basic purpose is this… there is opposition here. [Indistinct]… In Wana, Waziristan, Mehsud areas there was no unity in the mujahideen [freedom fighters]. We thought since one group of non-believers is teaming up with America …then we sat and decided among ourselves. When the kufr [infidels] have united, we thought why not us as well.
SAMAA: Where will you act? In Pakistan or Afghanistan?
BM: No, no… [laughs] … they will be in Pakistan and in Afghanistan.
SAMAA: There is the concern that as action is taken in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the US will have the opportunity to enter and act in Pakistan?
BM: [Recites lines from the Qur’an in Arabic]. It is God’s edict that you should not be afraid and not shy from taking action. As you are a believer you will be successful. We do not fear. We believe that only God is the superpower, not America.
SAMAA: So far no one has taken responsibility for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team or the Jamrud mosque attack. The government was blaming you. What would you say about that?
BM: I harshly condemn the attack on the Jamrud mosque but as far as the Sri Lanka attack is concerned, I cannot say anything about that.
ENDS
.:: SAMAA - The rise of Baitullah Mehsud: a SAMAA exclusive
