By: Ashfaq Yusufzai | 11 December 2013
Forensic experts link Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to attacks that the group denies involvement in, proving that the insurgents lied in what some say is an effort to rebuild their image.
PESHAWAR – Forensics experts have found evidence linking the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to a spate of recent bombings that the militants have denied involvement in, indicating that the militants are trying to polish their image by not claiming responsibility for brutal attacks on civilians.
Victims of a Charsadda Road bus bomb attack are treated at the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar September 27. Analysts say the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is trying to protect its image by denying responsibility for attacks that bear the militant group's signature. The attack killed 20. [Ashfaq Yusufzai]
The TTP has said it was not behind attacks on a Peshawar church, a passenger bus on Charsadda Road, the Qissa Khwani Bazaar and several others to protect their image, but police investigators and forensic experts say the evidence shows otherwise.
"The people died from wounds caused by the same explosives we have seen in other attacks," Dr. Javaid Khan at the Khyber Medical College said. "There is complete resemblance among the explosive matter and human resources used in violent acts."
"Telling lies and concealing the truth is a glaring example" of how the militants have no regard for people, he said.
But, really, if the TTP is not doing these acts then who is behind them, he asked.
"They have mastered the art of terrorism," he said. "When one hears the word 'Taliban,' the next word that comes to mind is 'terrorism.'"
The reason for the denials is simple, he said. The TTP's image has suffered a black eye recently for its continued attacks on civilians.
"If the TTP told the truth that it carried out all those bombings, it would harm their reputation," he said.
A police official agreed.
"Denying responsibility for attacks is part of their strategy to restore their dwindling image among the public," Peshawar police investigator Khalid Khan said.
They denied involvement in the All Saints Church bombing in Peshawar, for example, only after it received international condemnation, he said.
Citizens not believing Taliban claims
The lame attempt at cover-up, though, is not really helping the TTP as Pakistanis are laughing at the Taliban's denials, Khan said.
The TTP denying responsibility shows how ridiculous they are, Khan said, adding that further denial would erode their credibility, since it is a common knowledge that they carried these attacks.
"Such untruths make them a laughing stock, and issuance of untruthful statements will not make any difference," he said, adding that the militants' attempts to absolve themselves of killing innocent people mercilessly hasn't found receptive ears.
Charsadda-based police officer Saleem Khan, one who linked the Pakistani Taliban to the Peshawar Church attack, noted that Ansar-ul-Mujahideen, who confessed to committing the act, is a known TTP faction.
"The faction couldn't have carried out the attack without out the TTP’s approval." he said. "There are about 65 groups that operate under the umbrella of TTP … with separate wings for suicide and bomb attacks, target killing, kidnapping and other crimes."
Ansar-ul-Mujahideen, which also claimed to have conducted the suicide attack that killed KP Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur, is affiliated with TTP, according to its website, which means it permitted it.
The Taliban typically likes to claim responsibility for attacks, because it gives the group an opportunity to spout off its hate message.
"Taliban are part of the al-Qaeda-run terrorist network that operates in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and other places," Javaid Khan said. "The modus operandi is the same, but it denies some incidents where public sentiments tend to run high."
The stench of barbarism and brazenness and ignorance of fundamentalists is sheer example of shamelessness, he added.
Gender hypocrisy, too
The flip-flopping is not limited just to attacks. The Taliban has also voiced contradictory opinions about the treatment of women, Muhammad Rasool, a Swat-based social worker said.
The militants claim they respect women, he said, but they see no problem with insulting, humiliating and flogging females, Rasool said, citing an April 2009 public flogging of a 17-year-old girl in Swat for her alleged illicit relationship with a man as an example to substantiate his claim.
"First, the TTP said the decision was good and according to Islamic law, but later they termed it false after global outcry," Rasool said.
TTP lies about involvement in attacks, officials say - Central Asia Online
Forensic experts link Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to attacks that the group denies involvement in, proving that the insurgents lied in what some say is an effort to rebuild their image.
PESHAWAR – Forensics experts have found evidence linking the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to a spate of recent bombings that the militants have denied involvement in, indicating that the militants are trying to polish their image by not claiming responsibility for brutal attacks on civilians.
Victims of a Charsadda Road bus bomb attack are treated at the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar September 27. Analysts say the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is trying to protect its image by denying responsibility for attacks that bear the militant group's signature. The attack killed 20. [Ashfaq Yusufzai]
The TTP has said it was not behind attacks on a Peshawar church, a passenger bus on Charsadda Road, the Qissa Khwani Bazaar and several others to protect their image, but police investigators and forensic experts say the evidence shows otherwise.
"The people died from wounds caused by the same explosives we have seen in other attacks," Dr. Javaid Khan at the Khyber Medical College said. "There is complete resemblance among the explosive matter and human resources used in violent acts."
"Telling lies and concealing the truth is a glaring example" of how the militants have no regard for people, he said.
But, really, if the TTP is not doing these acts then who is behind them, he asked.
"They have mastered the art of terrorism," he said. "When one hears the word 'Taliban,' the next word that comes to mind is 'terrorism.'"
The reason for the denials is simple, he said. The TTP's image has suffered a black eye recently for its continued attacks on civilians.
"If the TTP told the truth that it carried out all those bombings, it would harm their reputation," he said.
A police official agreed.
"Denying responsibility for attacks is part of their strategy to restore their dwindling image among the public," Peshawar police investigator Khalid Khan said.
They denied involvement in the All Saints Church bombing in Peshawar, for example, only after it received international condemnation, he said.
Citizens not believing Taliban claims
The lame attempt at cover-up, though, is not really helping the TTP as Pakistanis are laughing at the Taliban's denials, Khan said.
The TTP denying responsibility shows how ridiculous they are, Khan said, adding that further denial would erode their credibility, since it is a common knowledge that they carried these attacks.
"Such untruths make them a laughing stock, and issuance of untruthful statements will not make any difference," he said, adding that the militants' attempts to absolve themselves of killing innocent people mercilessly hasn't found receptive ears.
Charsadda-based police officer Saleem Khan, one who linked the Pakistani Taliban to the Peshawar Church attack, noted that Ansar-ul-Mujahideen, who confessed to committing the act, is a known TTP faction.
"The faction couldn't have carried out the attack without out the TTP’s approval." he said. "There are about 65 groups that operate under the umbrella of TTP … with separate wings for suicide and bomb attacks, target killing, kidnapping and other crimes."
Ansar-ul-Mujahideen, which also claimed to have conducted the suicide attack that killed KP Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur, is affiliated with TTP, according to its website, which means it permitted it.
The Taliban typically likes to claim responsibility for attacks, because it gives the group an opportunity to spout off its hate message.
"Taliban are part of the al-Qaeda-run terrorist network that operates in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and other places," Javaid Khan said. "The modus operandi is the same, but it denies some incidents where public sentiments tend to run high."
The stench of barbarism and brazenness and ignorance of fundamentalists is sheer example of shamelessness, he added.
Gender hypocrisy, too
The flip-flopping is not limited just to attacks. The Taliban has also voiced contradictory opinions about the treatment of women, Muhammad Rasool, a Swat-based social worker said.
The militants claim they respect women, he said, but they see no problem with insulting, humiliating and flogging females, Rasool said, citing an April 2009 public flogging of a 17-year-old girl in Swat for her alleged illicit relationship with a man as an example to substantiate his claim.
"First, the TTP said the decision was good and according to Islamic law, but later they termed it false after global outcry," Rasool said.
TTP lies about involvement in attacks, officials say - Central Asia Online
