Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Participant in the War in North-West Pakistan

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan
Active December 2007 – Present
Leaders Baitullah Mehsud (Dec 2007 – Aug 2009)

Hakimullah Mehsud (Aug 2009 – Present)
Headquarters South Waziristan
Area of
operations		 Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Afghanistan
Strength Thousands[1]
Allies Al-Qaeda
Lashkar-e-Islam
Harkat-ul Jihad Islami
Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi
Afghan Taliban (note: applying only for the War in Afghanistan)
Opponents Pakistani Armed Forces
United States armed forces
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
Battles/wars War in North-West Pakistan

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (the TTP) (Urdu: تحریک طالبان پاکستان; Student Movement of Pakistan), alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist militant groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan. Most, but not all, Pakistani Taliban groups coalesce under the TTP.[2] In December 2007 about 13 groups united under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud to form the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.[1][3] Among the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan's stated objectives are resistance against the Pakistani state, enforcement of their interpretation of sharia and a plan to unite against NATO-led forces in Afghanistan.[1][3][4]

The TTP is not directly affiliated with Mullah Omar's Afghan Taliban.[4] The organization has almost exclusively targeted elements of the Pakistani state.[5] However, Qari Mehsud indicated in a video recorded in April 2010 the TTP would make cities in the United States a "main target" in response to U.S. drone attacks on TTP leaders.[6] The TTP claimed responsibility for the December 2009 suicide attack on CIA facilities in Camp Chapman as well as the attempted bombing in Times Square in May 2010.[5][7][8][9][10]

In 2009 Pakistan launched offensives to force the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan from its territory in South Waziristan.[11]

Contents

History

Roots and development

The roots of the TTP as an organization began in 2002 when the Pakistani military conducted incursions into the tribal areas to originally combat foreign (Arab and Central Asian) militants fleeing from the War in Afghanistan (2001-present) into Pakistan.[1][12] A 2004 article by the BBC explains:

The latest military offensive in which air force bombers and gunship helicopters pounded an alleged training camp of suspected al-Qaeda militants, has resulted in heavy casualties. And it has taken the conflict to an area [South Waziristan] that until now had remained relatively peaceful. ... The military offensive had been part of the overall war against al-Qaeda. ... Since the start of the operation, the [Pakistani] military authorities have firmly established that a large number of Uzbek, Chechen and Arab militants were in the area. ... It was in July 2002 that Pakistani troops, for the first time in 55 years, entered the Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal agency. Soon they were in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, and later in South Waziristan. ... This was made possible after long negotiations with various tribes, who reluctantly agreed to allow the military's presence on the assurance that it would bring in funds and development work. But once the military action started in South Waziristan a number of Waziri sub-tribes took it as an attempt to subjugate them. Attempts to persuade them into handing over the foreign militants failed, and with an apparently mishandling by the authorities, the security campaign against suspected al-Qaeda militants turned into an undeclared war between the Pakistani military and the rebel tribesmen.[12]

Many of the TTP's leaders are veterans of the fighting in Afghanistan and have supported the fight against the NATO-led ISAF by providing soldiers, training, and logistics.[4] In 2004 various tribal groups, as explained above, that would later form the TTP, effectively established their authority in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by concurrently engaging in military attacks and negotiating with Islamabad. By this time, the militants had killed around 200 rival tribal elders in the region to consolidate control.[3] Several Pakistani analysts also cite the inception of U.S. missile strikes in the FATA as a catalyzing factor in the rise of tribal militancy in the area. More specifically they single out an October 2006 strike on a TNSM-run madrassah in Bajaur as a turning point.[13]

In December 2007 the existence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was officially announced under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud.[3]

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.[14]

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 and aid the Afghan Taliban in combating the American presence in Afghanistan.[4] 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.[4][15][16] 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 and reasserted their allegiance to Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden.[4][15] However, the SIM did not last very long and collapsed shortly after its announcement.[13][17]

Leadership crisis

In August 2009 a missile strike from a suspected U.S. drone killed Baitullah Mehsud. The TTP soon held a shura to appoint his successor.[18] Government sources reported that fighting broke out during the shura between Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman. While Pakistani news channels reported that Hakimullah had been killed in the shooting, Interior Minister Rehman Malik could not confirm his death.[19] On August 18, Pakistani security officials announced the capture of Maulvi Omar, chief spokesperson of the TTP. Omar, who had denied the death of Baitullah, retracted his previous statements and confirmed the leader's death in the missile strike. He also acknowledged turmoil among TTP leadership following the killing.[20]

After Omar's capture, Maulana Faqir Mohammed announced to the BBC that he would assume temporary leadership of the TTP and that Muslim Khan would serve as primary spokesperson. He also maintained that Baitullah had not been killed, but rather was in ill health. Faqir further elaborated that decisions over leadership of the umbrella group would only be made in consultation and consensus with other TTP leaders. "The congregation of Taliban leaders has 32 members and no important decision can be taken without their consultation," he told the BBC.[21][22] He reported to the AFP that both Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur-Rehman had approved his appointment as temporary leader of the militant group.[23] Neither militant had publicly confirmed Faqir's statement, and analysts cited by Dawn News believed the assumption of leadership actually indicated a power struggle.[24]

Two days later Faqir Mohammed retracted his claims of temporary leadership and said that Hakimullah Mehsud had been selected leader of the TTP.[25] Faqir declared that the 42-member shura had also decided that Azam Tariq would serve as the TTP's primary spokesperson, rather than Muslim Khan.[26]

Under the leadership of Hakimullah, the TTP intensified its suicide campaign against the Pakistani state and against civilian (particularly Shia, Ahmedi and Sufi) targets.[13]

Designation as a Terrorist Organization

On September 1, 2010 the United States designated the TTP as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and identified Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali ur-Rehman as "specially designated global terrorists." The designation of the TTP as an FTO makes it a crime to provide support or to do business with the group and also allows the U.S. to freeze its any assets. The State Department also issued a $5 million reward for information on the two individuals' locations.[27][28]

In January 2011 the British government began to move to classify the TTP as a banned terrorist organization under its Terrorism Act 2000.[29]

In July 2011 the Canadian government also added the TTP to its list of banned terrorist organizations.[30]

Organizational structure

Overview

The TTP differs in structure to the Afghan Taliban in that it lacks a central command and is a much looser coalition of various militant groups, united by hostility to the central government in Islamabad.[31][32][33] Several analysts describe the TTP's structure as a loose network of dispersed constituent groups that vary in size and in levels of coordination.[13] The various factions of the TTP tend to be limited to their local areas of influence and often lack the ability to expand their operations beyond that territory.[34]

In its original form, the TTP had Baitullah Mehsud as its amir, and he was followed in the leadership hierarchy by naib amir, or deputy, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and then Faqir Mohammed.[3] The group contained members from all of FATA's seven tribal agencies as well as several districts of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), including Swat, Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohistan, Buner, and Malakand.[3] Some 2008 estimates placed the total number of operatives as 30–35,000, although it is difficult to judge the reliability of such estimates.[1]

In the aftermath of Baitullah Mehsud's death, the organization demonstrated signs of turmoil among its leading militants. By the end of August 2009, leading members in the TTP had confirmed Hakimullah Mehsud as its second amir. Government and some Taliban sources told media that Hakimullah Meshud was killed in January 2010 by injuries sustained during a U.S. drone attack, and unconfirmed reports from Orakzai Agency stated that Malik Noor Jamal, alias Maulana Toofan, had assumed leadership of the TTP until the group determined how to proceed.[35][36]

Reuters, citing a report from The Express Tribune, indicated in July 2011 that Hakimullah Mehsud's grip on the TTP leadership was weakening after the defection of Fazal Saeed Haqqani, the Taliban leader in the Kurram region, from the umbrella militant group. Haqqani cited disagreements over attacks on civilians as reason for the split. The paper quoted an associate of Mehsud's as saying that "it looks as though he is just a figurehead now... He can hardly communicate with his commanders in other parts of the tribal areas ... he is in total isolation. Only a few people within the TTP know where he is."[37] A December 2011 report published in The Express Tribune further described the network as "crumbling" with "funds dwindling and infighting intensifying." According to various TTP operatives, the difficulties stemmed from differences of opinion within TTP leadership on pursuing peace talks with Islamabad.[38]

Leaders

Current

Former

Pakistani Taliban but not allied to TTP

Spokesmen

Current

Former

Relations with other militant groups

In a May 2010 interview, U.S. Gen. David Petraeus described the TTP's relationship with other militant groups as difficult to decipher: "There is clearly a symbiotic relationship between all of these different organizations: al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, TNSM [Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi]. And it's very difficult to parse and to try to distinguish between them. They support each other, they coordinate with each other, sometimes they compete with each other, [and] sometimes they even fight each other. But at the end of the day, there is quite a relationship between them."[5]

Director of National Intelligence and United States Navy Admiral, Dennis C. Blair, told U.S. senators that the Pakistani state and army meanwhile draw clear distinctions among different militant groups.[55] While there are links between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, they appear to be sufficiently distinct for the Pakistani military and ISI to treat them very differently.[56] American officials said that the S Wing of the Pakistani ISI provided direct support to three major groups carrying out attacks in Afghanistan: the Afghan Taliban based in Quetta, Pakistan, commanded by Mullah Muhammad Omar; the militant network run by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar; and a different group run by the guerrilla leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, all considered a strategic asset by Pakistan in contrast to the TTP run by Hakimullah Mehsud, which has engaged the Pakistani army in combat.[55]

Afghan Taliban

The Afghan Taliban and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan differ greatly in their history, leadership and goals although they share a primarily Deobandi interpretation of Islam and are both predominantly Pashtun.[31][32] The two groups are distinct, though linked, movements.[7][28] An Afghan Taliban spokesman told The New York Times: "We don’t like to be involved with them, as we have rejected all affiliation with Pakistani Taliban fighters ... We have sympathy for them as Muslims, but beside that, there is nothing else between us."[4][57] Some regional experts state that the common name "Taliban" may be more misleading than illuminating. Gilles Dorronsoro, a scholar of South Asia at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes that "[t]he fact that they have the same name causes all kinds of confusion."[31] As the Pakistani Army began offensives against the Pakistani Taliban, many unfamiliar with the region mistakenly thought that the assault was against the Afghan Taliban of Mullah Omar.[31]

Although the TTP has claimed allegiance with the Afghan Taliban in the Afghan Taliban's insurgency in Afghanistan, the two groups have no direct affiliation.[4] The TTP has almost exclusively targeted elements of the Pakistani state.[5] The Afghan Taliban however have historically relied on support from the Pakistani army in their campaign to control Afghanistan.[58][13] Regular Pakistani army troops fought alongside the Afghan Taliban in the War in Afghanistan (1996-2001).[59] Major leaders of the Afghan Taliban including Mullah Omar, Jalaluddin Haqqani and Siraj Haqqani are believed to enjoy safe haven in Pakistan.[60] In 2006, Jalaluddin Haqqani was called a 'Pakistani asset' by a senior official of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.[60] Pakistan regards the Haqqanis as an important force for protecting its interests in Afghanistan and therefor has been unwilling to move against them.[60]

Before the creation of the TTP some of their leaders and fighters were among the 10,000 Pakistani, Arab and Central Asian militants fighting as part of a 25,000 force in the War in Afghanistan (1996-2001) and the War in Afghanistan (2001-present) against the anti-Taliban United Islamic Front and NATO forces.[61] A 1998 U.S. State Department report stated that "20-40 percent of [regular] Taliban soldiers [were] Pakistani."[58] After the fall of the Afghan Taliban in late 2001, many Pakistani Taliban militants, including members of today's TTP, sought refuge in Pakistan.[62] Afghan Taliban maintaining contacts to Pakistan's ISI[63] also fled for Pakistan where they regrouped, maintain safe havens and training camps and from where they launched their insurgency in Afghanistan. [64] A journalist embedded with Canadian troops in Kandahar Province in the summer of 2006 indicated that "Pakistani Taliban were routinely captured" at the time.[65] Captured fighters admitted to being recruited and trained in Pakistan.[65] Members of the two groups easily cross back and forth across the border between the two countries.[7]

In 2007, Pakistani militants loyal to Baitullah Mehsud created the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and killed around 200 rival Pakistani leaders. They officially defined goals to establish their rule over Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas subsequently engaging the Pakistani army in heavy combat operations. Intelligence analysts believe that these TTP's attacks on the Pakistani government, police and army strained relations between the Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban.[31] Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar asked the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in late 2008 and early 2009 to stop attacks inside Pakistan, to change their focus as an organization and to fight the Afghan National Army and ISAF forces in Afghanistan instead.

In February 2009, the three dominant Pakistani Taliban leaders agreed to put aside their differences to help counter a planned increase in American troops in Afghanistan and reaffirmed their allegiance to Mullah Omar (and to Osama bin Laden).[4] The agreement among the TTP leaders was short-lived, however, and instead of fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban the rival Pakistani factions soon engaged in combat with each other.[13][17] Peshawar-based security analyst Brigadier (retd) Muhamaad Saad believes the Taliban are not a monolithic entity. "They can be divided into three broad categories: Kandahari Taliban, led by Mullah Omar; Paktia Taliban, led by Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani; and Salfi Taliban," he said. "It’s the Salfi Taliban who pose a real threat to Pakistan. They may not be obeying the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar."[66]

In July 2011, after Pakistani missile attacks against Afghan provinces, Pakistani media reports alleged that senior Pakistani Taliban leaders were operating from Afghanistan to launch attacks against Pakistani border posts. According to the reports, Qari Zia-ur-Rahman hosted Faqir Muhammad in Kunar province while Maulana Fazlullah was alleged to be hosted in Nuristan province by Sheikh Dost Muhammad, a local Afghan Taliban leader. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the possibility of Pakistani Taliban setting up bases in Afghan Taliban-controlled areas strongly rejecting the reports.[67] Faqir Muhammad, however, who claimed responsibility for a July 4, 2011 attack on a paramilitary checkpoint and for similar attacks in June 2011 on several border villages in Bajaur, during a radio broadcast stated, "Our fighters carried out these two attacks from Afghanistan, and we will launch more such attacks inside Afghanistan and in Pakistan."[68] Tameem Nuristani, Governor of Afghanistan's Nuristan Province, told The Express Tribune that while the "Afghan Taliban have never carried out cross-border attacks in Pakistan," TTP militants may have "safe-havens" in Kunar and Nuristan in "areas where the government’s writ does not exist".[66]

In early January 2012, TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan announced that rival Taliban groups had made a new attempt to unite under a five-member council called the Shura-e-Murakeba at the behest of Mullah Omar. The TTP, he said, had agreed to Mullah Omars demand to end suicide attacks, attacks against the Pakistani military, kidnappings for ransom, and the killing of innocent Pakistanis so that they could help focus on US forces in Afghanistan. Among the factions in the agreement were those led by Hakimullah Mehsud, Maulvi Nazir, Waliur Rahman, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Siraj Haqqani.[69][70][71]

al-Qaeda

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has close ties to Al Qaeda, sharing money and bomb experts and makers. John Brennan, President Obama’s chief counterterrorism adviser, said: "It's a group that is closely allied with al-Qaeda. They train together, they plan together, they plot together. They are almost indistinguishable."[72] Ambassador-at-large Daniel Benjamin stated, "The T.T.P. and Al Qaeda have a symbiotic relationship: T.T.P. draws ideological guidance from Al Qaeda, while Al Qaeda relies on the T.T.P. for safe haven in the Pashtun areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border... This mutual cooperation gives T.T.P. access to both Al Qaeda’s global terrorist network and the operational experience of its members. Given the proximity of the two groups and the nature of their relationship, T.T.P. is a force multiplier for Al Qaeda."[28] Ayesha Siddiqa of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars describes the TTP as "a franchise of al Qaeda" and attributes strong ties to al-Qaeda's acquisition of "a more local character over the years."[32] Since the days of the Soviet era, some al-Qaeda operatives have established themselves in Pashtun areas and enmeshed themselves in the local culture.[33]

In 2008 Baitullah Mehsud met with Ayman al-Zawahiri in South Waziristan. Prior to this meeting the Pakistani Taliban answered to the Afghan Taliban and pro-Pakistan militant commanders. At the time Pakistani authorities believed that Mehsud was in fact an al-Qaeda operative.[34] In February 2009 Baitullah Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Maulavi Nazir released a statement in which they reaffirmed their allegiance to Osama bin Laden.[4][15]

Ghazi Abdul Rashid Shaheed Brigade

The Ghazi Abdul Rashid Shaheed Brigade, whose name is commonly shortened to Ghazi Brigade or Ghazi Force, emerged as a jihadi organization after the Lal Masjid massacre of 2007. In 2009 the Ghazi Brigade worked closely with the TTP during military operations in the Swat Valley, and the two groups jointly planned attacks on western targets in Islamabad.[73][74]

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

The TTP and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) have a long history of collaboration. At one point prior to his appointment as TTP chief, Baitullah Mehsud lived with Tohir Yo'ldosh, the IMU's former leader, who became an ideological inspiration and offered the services of his 2,500 fighters to Mehsud.[75] In April 2009 Muslim Khan listed the IMU among the TTP's allies in an interview with AP.[57] The IMU posted a video online in September 2010 that featured footage of Yo'ldosh's successor, Abu Usman Adil, meeting with Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali-ur Rahman Mehsud.[76]

Punjabi Taliban

The Punjabi Taliban (Urdu: پنجابی طالبان), sometimes called the Tehrik-i-Taliban Punjab, is an alleged loose network of members of banned militant groups based in South Punjab, the southernmost region of Pakistan's most populous Punjab province. Major factions of the so-called Punjabi Taliban include operatives of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and Jaysh-i-Muhammad, who have previously been involved in the Kashmir insurgency with India in Indian-administered Kashmir, a territory claimed and disputed by Pakistan. TTP has significant recruits from Punjab based sectarian organizations also called Punjabi Taliban.[77] The Punjabi Taliban has also developed strong connections with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi and various other groups based in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).[78][79] It has increasingly provided the foot-soldiers for violent acts and has played an important role in attacking Ahmedi, Shia, Sufi and other civilian targets in the Punjab.[13][80]

The term "Punjabi Taliban" is politically sensitive among Pakistanis,[13] given that Punjabis are the largest ethnic group in the country and have historically been disassociated with the Taliban, an organisation that has Afghan and Pashtun roots. Although claimed and believed to be an established militant group, the Government of Punjab has denied and rejected their existence.[81] Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab Chief Minister, has claimed that the term Punjabi Taliban is "an insult to the Punjabis" and accuses that it was coined by Rehman Malik purposely on ethnic grounds.[82] During a March 17, 2010 cabinet meeting Malik confirmed that Punjabi militants had joined Waziristan-based Taliban to stage attacks inside Punjab.[79] Georgetown University's C. Christine Fair writes that "the movement is composed of Pashtuns and Punjabis, among other Pakistani and even foreign elements."[13]

The Lahore police accused them as responsible for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team which took place in Lahore on 3 March 2009.[83]

The group also claimed the 2009 Lahore bombing shortly after the attack, although the attack was also claimed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan,[84] and the May 2010 attacks on Ahmadi mosques in Lahore which were aimed at the Ahmadis minority sect.[85]

Pamphlets found at the scene of the March 2011 assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti implicated the Punjabi Taliban.[80][86] The US drone attack which targeted Ilyas Kashmiri in June 2011 also allegedly killed some members of the Punjabi Taliban.

Other groups

American officials admitted to The New York Times that they found it increasingly difficult to separate the operations of the various Pakistani militant groups active in the tribal areas of Pakistan.[9] Individuals and groups that are believed to have a supportive relationship with the TTP include:

Claimed and alleged attacks

Main article: List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001

See also

Pakistan portal
Terrorism portal


Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bajoria, Jayshree (February 6, 2008). "Pakistan's New Generation of Terrorists". Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.cfr.org/publication/15422/pakistans_new_generation_of_terrorists.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F13611%2Fjayshree_bajoria%3Fgroupby%3D1%26hide%3D1%26id%3D13611%26filter%3D456. Retrieved March 30, 2009. 
  2. ^ Yusufzai, Rahimullah (2008-09-22). "A Who’s Who of the Insurgency in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province: Part One – North and South Waziristan". Terrorism Monitor 6 (18). http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=5169&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=167&no_cache=1. Retrieved 2011-03-30. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Abbas, Hassan (January 2008). "A Profile of Tehrik-I-Taliban Pakistan" (PDF). CTC Sentinel (West Point, NY: Combating Terrorism Center) 1 (2): 1–4. http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html. Retrieved November 8, 2008. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carlotta Gall, Ismail Khan, Pir Zubair Shah and Taimoor Shah (March 26, 2009). "Pakistani and Afghan Taliban Unify in Face of U.S. Influx". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/asia/27taliban.html. Retrieved March 27, 2009. 
  5. ^ a b c d Bajoria, Jayshree; Greg Bruno (2010-05-06). "Shared Goals for Pakistan's Militants". Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.cfr.org/publication/22064/shared_goals_for_pakistans_militants.html. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
  6. ^ Roggio, Bill (May 3, 2010). "Hakeemullah Mehsud breaks his silence, threatens US". Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/videos/2010/05/hakeemullah_mehsud_breaks_his.php. Retrieved May 6, 2010. 
  7. ^ a b c d "Pakistan Taliban say they carried out CIA attack". MSNBC News (The Associated Press). 2010-01-01. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34654487/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/. Retrieved 2011-03-01. 
  8. ^ a b Georgy, Michael (2010-01-11). "ANALYSIS - CIA bomber video publicity coup for Pakistan Taliban". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/01/11/idINIndia-45310520100111?pageNumber=1. Retrieved 2011-03-01. 
  9. ^ a b Mazzetti, Mark (May 6, 2010). "Evidence Mounts for Taliban Role in Car Bomb Plot". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/nyregion/06bomb.html. Retrieved May 6, 2010. 
  10. ^ Berger, Joseph (May 2, 2010). "Pakistani Taliban Behind Times Sq. Plot, Holder Says". NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/us/politics/10holder.html. Retrieved May 9, 2010. 
  11. ^ "Pakistan offensive: troops meet heavy Taliban resistance". The Daily Telegraph (London). October 17, 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6356367/Pakistan-offensive-troops-meet-heavy-Taliban-resistance.html. Retrieved April 9, 2010. 
  12. ^ a b Abbas, Zaffar (September 10, 2004). "Pakistan's undeclared war". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3645114.stm. "The latest military offensive in which air force bombers and gunship helicopters pounded an alleged training camp of suspected al-Qaeda militants, has resulted in heavy casualties. And it has taken the conflict to an area [South Waziristan] that until now had remained relatively peaceful. ... The military offensive had been part of the overall war against al-Qaeda. ... Since the start of operation, the [Pakistani] military authorities have firmly established that a large number of Uzbek, Chechen and Arab militants were in the area. ... It was in July 2002 that Pakistani troops, for the first time in 55 years, entered the Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal agency. Soon they were in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, and later in South Waziristan. ...This was made possible after long negotiations with various tribes, who reluctantly agreed to allow the military's presence on the assurance that it would bring in funds and development work. But once the military action started in South Waziristan a number of Waziri sub-tribes took it as an attempt to subjugate them. Attempts to persuade them into handing over the foreign militants failed, and with an apparently mishandling by the authorities, the security campaign against suspected al-Qaeda militants turned into an undeclared war between the Pakistani military and the rebel tribesmen." 
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Fair, C. Christine (2011-01). "The Militant Challenge in Pakistan" (PDF). Asia Policy 11 (1): 105–37. doi:10.1353/asp.2011.0010. http://www.nbr.org/publications/asia_policy/AP11/AP11_F_MilitantPakistan.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-17. 
  14. ^ Shahzad, Syed Saleem (August 26, 2008). "Setback for Pakistan's terror drive". Asia Times Online. http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH27Df01.html. Retrieved August 26, 2008. 
  15. ^ a b c Khan, Haji Mujtaba (February 23, 2009). "Taliban rename their group". The Nation. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/23-Feb-2009/Taliban-rename-their-group. Retrieved March 30, 2009. 
  16. ^ "Three Taliban factions form Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahiden". The News. February 23, 2009. http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=69346. Retrieved March 30, 2009. 
  17. ^ a b c Roggio, Bill (August 16, 2009). "South Waziristan Taliban Groups Clash". The Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/south_waziristan_tal.php. Retrieved August 26, 2009. 
  18. ^ Toosi, Nahal; Ishtiaq Mahsud (August 7, 2009). "Pakistani Taliban head's death a blow to militant". Associated Press via Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan;_ylt=AuOgjAXTAdbFaBSJ0GNeaCr34494;_ylu=X3oDMTJlc21wNG83BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODA3L2FzX3Bha2lzdGFuBGNwb3MDMwRwb3MDMwRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA3Bha2lzdGFuaXRhbA--. Retrieved August 7, 2009. 
  19. ^ "Fighting erupts between Taliban rivals". Financial Times. August 8, 2009. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7dd1aa9c-8423-11de-aa5d-00144feabdc0.html. Retrieved August 8, 2009. "Pakistani news channels were carrying unconfirmed reports that Hakimullah Mehsud, one of the movement's most powerful commanders, had been killed at a shura, or council meeting, held to decide who would succeed slain leader Baitullah Mehsud. "The infighting was between Wali-ur-Rehman and Hakimullah Mehsud," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters. "We have information that one of them has been killed. Who was killed we will be able to say later after confirming."" 
  20. ^ Khan, Ismail (August 18, 2008). "Pakistan Captures Top Taliban Aide". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19pstan.html. Retrieved August 19, 2008. 
  21. ^ "Pakistan Taliban spokesman named". BBC News. August 19, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8208750.stm. Retrieved August 19, 2009. 
  22. ^ "Maulvi Faqeer acting Tehrik-i-Taliban chief: report". Dawn. August 19, 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-maulvi-faqeer-is-acting-tehrik-i-taliban-chief-qs-11. Retrieved August 19, 2009. 
  23. ^ "Faqir claims TTP leadership, Muslim Khan replaces Omer". Daily Times. August 20, 2009. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\20\story_20-8-2009_pg7_4. Retrieved August 20, 2009. 
  24. ^ "Rifts as Pakistani Taliban deputy claims leadership". Dawn News. August 20, 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-rifts-as-pakistani-taliban-deputy-claims-leadership-qs-10. Retrieved August 20, 2009. 
  25. ^ "Hakeemullah annnounced new leader – doubts linger". Dawn News. August 23, 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-doubts-remain-as-hakeemullah-annnounced-new-leader-ss-07. Retrieved August 23, 2009. 
  26. ^ Khan, Hasbanullah (August 23, 2009). "Hakeemullah appointed Baitullah's "successor"". Daily Times. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\23\story_23-8-2009_pg1_5. Retrieved August 24, 2009. 
  27. ^ "Designations of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and Two Senior Leaders". US Department of State. September 1, 2010. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/09/146545.htm. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
  28. ^ a b c Savage, Charlies (2010-09-01). "U.S. Adds Legal Pressure on Pakistani Taliban". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/world/asia/02talib.html. Retrieved 2011-03-01. 
  29. ^ "Britain Moves to Ban Pakistani Taliban". VOA News (Voice of America). 2011-01-18. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Britain-Moves-to-Ban-Pakistani-Taliban--114127334.html. Retrieved 2011-02-08. 
  30. ^ Macleod, Ian (2011-07-05). "Canada bans Pakistani Taliban as a terror group". The Vancouver Sun (Postmedia Network Inc.). http://www.vancouversun.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/Canada+bans+Pakistani+Taliban+terror+group/5054370/story.html. Retrieved 2011-07-11. 
  31. ^ a b c d e Shane, Scott (2009-10-22). "Insurgents Share a Name, but Pursue Different Goals". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/world/asia/23taliban.html. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
  32. ^ a b c Siddiqa, Ayesha (2011). "Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Strategy: Separating Friends from Enemies" (PDF). The Washington Quarterly 34 (1): 149–162. doi:10.1080/0163660X.2011.53836. http://www.twq.com/11winter/docs/11winter_Siddiqa.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-08. 
  33. ^ a b Elias, Barbara (2009-11-02). "Know Thine Enemy". Foreign Affairs. http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65639/barbara-elias/know-thine-enemy?page=show. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  34. ^ a b Gall, Carlotta; Sabrina (2010-05-06). "Pakistani Taliban Are Said to Expand Alliances". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/world/asia/07pstan.html. Retrieved 2011-02-28. 
  35. ^ "Sources: Pakistani Taliban leader is dead". CNN. February 9, 2010. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/09/pakistan.meshud.dead/. Retrieved February 11, 2010. 
  36. ^ "Maulana Toofan new acting TTP chief?". The News International (Jang Multimedia). February 10, 2010. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27020. Retrieved February 11, 2010. 
  37. ^ "Pakistan Taliban leader "isolated," facing splits: report". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). 2011-07-05. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/05/us-pakistan-taliban-idUSTRE76419E20110705. Retrieved 2011-07-10. 
  38. ^ Khan, Zia (2011-12-19). "Twilight of the Taliban: TTP buckles under internal fissures, external pressure". The Express Tribune (The Express Tribune News Network). http://tribune.com.pk/story/308623/twilight-of-the-taliban-ttp-buckles-under-internal-fissures-external-pressure/. Retrieved 2011-12-19. 
  39. ^ a b "Taliban confirm commander's death". BBC News. August 25, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm. Retrieved August 25, 2009. 
  40. ^ Yusufzai, Rahimullah (November 30, 2008). "Hakimullah Mehsud unveils himself to media". The News International. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=149728. Retrieved May 28, 2009. 
  41. ^ "Al Jazeera English – CENTRAL/S. ASIA – Pakistan launches Taliban offensive". English.aljazeera.net. October 18, 2009. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/10/2009101755843246925.html. Retrieved May 9, 2010. 
  42. ^ Roggio, Bill (May 28, 2008). "Pakistan strikes deal with the Taliban in Mohmand". Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/05/pakistan_strikes_dea.php. Retrieved August 26, 2009. 
  43. ^ Roggio, Bill (August 25, 2009). "Baitullah Mehsud dead; Hakimullah new leader of Pakistani Taliban". Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/baitullah_mehsud_dea.php. Retrieved August 26, 2009. 
  44. ^ a b Roggio, Bill (2010-11-08). "Pakistani Taliban enlist 6 local groups in Wana region of South Waziristan Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/11/pakistani_taliban_en.php#ixzz1Df5AVhZf". The Long War Journal. Public Multimedia Inc.. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/11/pakistani_taliban_en.php. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  45. ^ Rehmat, Kamran (January 27, 2009). "Swat: Pakistan's lost paradise". Islamabad: Al Jazeera. http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/01/200912512351598892.html. Retrieved September 26, 2009. "His...rebel army reportedly takes its cue from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan,... headed by Baitullah Masud... The two came together in the aftermath of a sweeping military operation in 2007 at the Red Mosque in Islamabad... this alliance is said to be responsible for suicide bombings that killed dozens of security personnel." 
  46. ^ a b Schmidle, Nicholas (2009-03). "The Idiot's Guide to Pakistan". http://www.newamerica.net/node/9459. Retrieved 2011-02-25. 
  47. ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib; M Ilyas Khan (March 26, 2009). "Profile: Baitullah Mehsud". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7163626.stm. Retrieved June 9, 2009. 
  48. ^ Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan
  49. ^ Khan, Riaz (June 8, 2009). "Pakistanis attack Taliban over mosque bombing". Yahoo! News. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090608/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan. Retrieved June 10, 2009. 
  50. ^ Xiang, Zhang (Ocotber 14, 2011). "Gunmen kill prominent Pakistan Taliban commander". Xinhua. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/14/c_131192091.htm. Retrieved October 27, 2011. 
  51. ^ a b "At least 32 killed in Faisalabad blast; Taliban claim responsibility". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2011-03-08. http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/08/explosion-heard-in-faisalabad-reports.html. Retrieved 2011-03-08. 
  52. ^ a b Mian, Khursheed (2011-03-08). "Bomb kills 25 at Pakistan gas station, many hurt". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-pakistan-violence-idUSTRE72714220110308. Retrieved 2011-03-08. 
  53. ^ Roggio, Bill (August 18, 2009). "Pakistani Taliban's Top Spokesman Captured in Mohmand". Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/pakistani_talibans_t.php. Retrieved August 26, 2009. 
  54. ^ Roggio, Bill (August 19, 2009). "Faqir Mohammed Takes Command of Pakistani Taliban". Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/pakistani_talibans_t.php. Retrieved August 26, 2009. 
  55. ^ a b Mazetti, Marc; Eric Schmitt (March 26, 2009). "Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, U.S. Aides Say". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/world/asia/26tribal.html?_r=1. 
  56. ^ Waldman, Matt (2010-06). "THE SUN IN THE SKY: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAKISTAN’S ISI AND AFGHAN INSURGENTS" (PDF). Crisis States Discussion Papers. London: Crisis States Research Centre. pp. 3. http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/multimedia/20106138531279734lse-isi-taliban.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-14. "Separately, there are a wide range of Islamist militant groups, principally based in north-west Pakistan, a large number of which coalesced under the banner of Tehrik-e-Taleban-e- Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban (Franco 2009:269). Although the ISI previously supported many of these groups, since 2007 the militants have increasingly turned their fire on Pakistani state.8 Consequently, the Pakistani military has undertaken extensive operations against their strongholds in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.9 While there are undoubtedly links between the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, they appear to be sufficiently distinct for the Pakistani military and ISI to treat them very differently." 
  57. ^ a b c d "TTP says Osama welcome in Swat: Taliban reject peace accord". Lahore: Daily Times. April 22, 2009. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\22\story_22-4-2009_pg1_1. Retrieved September 11, 2009. "Muslim Khan counted the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, the Jaish-e-Muhammad, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban of Afghanistan among his allies. "If we need, we can call them and if they need, they can call us," he said. He said his forces would go to help the Taliban in Afghanistan if the United States and NATO continue to fight there." 
  58. ^ a b "Documents Detail Years of Pakistani Support for Taliban, Extremists". George Washington University. 2007. http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB227/index.htm#17. 
  59. ^ Marcela Grad. Massoud: An Intimate Portrait of the Legendary Afghan Leader (March 1, 2009 ed.). Webster University Press. p. 310. 
  60. ^ a b c U.S. attack on Taliban kills 23 in Pakistan, The New York Times, 2008-09-09
  61. ^ "Afghanistan resistance leader feared dead in blast". London: Ahmed Rashid in the Telegraph. September 11, 2001. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1340244/Afghanistan-resistance-leader-feared-dead-in-blast.html. 
  62. ^ Hussain, Zahid (2007). Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle With Militant Islam. Columbia University Press. p. 107. ISBN 0 85368 769 2. 
  63. ^ Hussain, Zahid (2007). Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle With Militant Islam. Columbia University Press. p. 107. ISBN 0 85368 769 2. 
  64. ^ Roggio, Bill (2010-06-10). "Afghan Taliban deny being supported by Pakistan". The Long War Journal. Public Multimedia Inc.. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/06/afghan_taliban_deny.php. Retrieved 2011-02-14. "After the US ousted Mullah Omar from power in 2001 and 2002, the Taliban and al Qaeda regrouped in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan as well as in northwestern Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban teamed up with Pakistani Taliban factions and maintain safe havens and training camps in Pakistan to this day." 
  65. ^ a b "Is Pakistan Doing All It Should to Secure Its Afghan Border?". 2007-03-07. http://www.cfr.org/pakistan/pakistan-doing-all-should-secure-its-afghan-border/p12700. Retrieved 2011-02-17. "To ignore that the Taliban in Afghanistan receive very real support from Pakistan understates the severity of the problem. When thousands of Taliban from Pakistan have been positively identified as organizing, arming, training, and raiding from camps in Waziristan and Bajaur, this isn't a problem that can be easily swept under the rug. While I was embedded with the Canadian Army in Kandahar last summer, Pakistani Taliban were routinely captured. Last fall, captured fighters admitted to being recruited and trained in Pakistan. “Mullahs in Pakistan were preaching to us that we are obliged to fight jihad in Afghanistan,” said a Pakistani Taliban fighter named Alahuddin. “A Pakistani Taliban commander, Saifullah, introduced us to a guide who escorted us to Barmal.” The unit he crossed over with was largely from North Waziristan, and Maulivi Saifullah signed the Waziristan Accord. There are numerous accounts such as this." 
  66. ^ a b "Border incursions: Suspicions grow about Afghan support for TTP". The Express Tribune. September 11, 2011. http://tribune.com.pk/story/249872/border-incursions-suspicions-grow-about-afghan-support-for-ttp/. Retrieved September 11, 2011. 
  67. ^ Tahir, Khan (2011-07-08). "Cross-border cooperation: Ties that bind militants persist". The Express Tribune. http://tribune.com.pk/story/204989/cross-border-cooperation-ties-that-bind-militants-persist/. Retrieved 2011-07-08. 
  68. ^ "Taliban commander back on the air in Pakistan". LaCrosse Tribune (The Associated Press). 2011-07-07. http://lacrossetribune.com/news/world/article_9d1ad52e-72f8-504f-b6e3-29288ebff33d.html. Retrieved 2011-07-10. 
  69. ^ "Taliban pledge not to target security forces". The News International. 2012-01-03. http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=29800&title=Taliban-vow-not-to-target-armed-forces. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  70. ^ Mehsud, Sailab (2012-01-03). "Taliban factions regroup to fight US forces". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/03/al-qaida-taliban-ask-pakistani-militants-for-help.html. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  71. ^ Khan, Shaan (2012-01-03). "Taliban, allies form leadership council". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/02/world/asia/pakistan-taliban/index.html?hpt=hp_t3. Retrieved 2012-01-03. 
  72. ^ Hennessey, Kathleen (August 10, 2010). "N.Y. bomber has al Qaeda tie, White House says". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/09/MN3F1DBTEN.DTL. 
  73. ^ Search Results vengeful new militant group emerges in pakistan hs | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia | DAWN.COM
  74. ^ Roul, Animesh (2010-07-10). "Little-Known Ghazi Brigade Now a Major Player in the Punjabi Jihad?" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor VIII (28): 5–6. http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/TM_008_63.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
  75. ^ Syed Saleem Shahzad (2009-08-08). "Baitullah: Dead or alive, his battle rages". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 2009-08-07. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atimes.com%2Fatimes%2FSouth_Asia%2FKH08Df04.html&date=2009-08-07. Retrieved 2009-08-07. 
  76. ^ Anzalone, Christopher (2011-01-28). "Al Qaeda loses bridge to the West". Foreign Policy. The Slate Group. http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/01/28/al_qaeda_loses_bridge_to_the_west. Retrieved 2011-02-09. 
  77. ^ Militant Networks in North Waziristan | The Daily Outlook Afghanistan
  78. ^ Hassan, Abbas (2009-04). "Defining the Punjabi Taliban Network" (PDF). CTC Sentinel 2 (4): 1–4. http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss4.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
  79. ^ a b Majidyar, Ahmad K. (2010-06). "Could the Taliban Take Over Pakistan's Punjab Province?". Middle Eastern Outlook. http://www.aei.org/outlook/100967. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  80. ^ a b "Things fall apart". The Economist (The Economist Newspaper Limited 2011). 2011-03-11. http://www.economist.com/node/18285912?story_id=18285912. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 
  81. ^ Khan, Zia (2010-07-05). "Govt may tighten anti-terror laws". The Express Tribune (The Express Tribune News Network). http://tribune.com.pk/story/25761/govt-may-tighten-anti-terror-laws/. Retrieved 2011-01-25. "However, the Punjab government is still denying the existence of “Punjabi militants” and has snubbed a demand for a crackdown on banned sectarian outfits that intelligence agencies say are now in collaboration with al Qaeda as well as the local Taliban." 
  82. ^ Khan, Aamer Ahmed (2010-07-03). "Jaag Punjabi jaag". The Express Tribune (The Express Tribune News Network). http://tribune.com.pk/story/25461/jaag-punjabi-jaag/. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
  83. ^ Pakistan cricket raid suspect held. Al Jazeera English. 17 June 2009.
  84. ^ "Pakistani Taliban claims Lahore attack". The Hindu (The Hindu). 2009-05-29. "An unknown group called Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab was also reported to have claimed the attack in a message posted on Turkish jihadist websites. SITE Intelligence, an American group tracking jihad websites, reported the claim late on Wednesday." 
  85. ^ Perlez, Jane (May 28, 2010). "Attackers Hit Mosques of Islamic Sect in Pakistan". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/world/asia/29pstan.html. Retrieved 28 May 2010. 
  86. ^ Azeem, Munawer; Khawar Ghumman (2011-03-03). "Terrorists silence another voice of interfaith harmony". dawn.com (Dawn Media). http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/03/terrorists-silence-another-voice-of-interfaith-harmony.html. Retrieved 2011-03-03. "Pamphlets were discovered at the scene of the assassination, in which the Tehrik-i-Taliban Punjab claimed responsibility for the attack. More commonly known as the Punjabi Taliban, which is a euphemism for the militant group Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, the group claimed in the pamphlet that they had targeted Mr Bhatti for his opposition to the blasphemy law." 
  87. ^ a b c Roggio, Bill (August 31, 2009). "Pakistan's most-wanted: look at who isn't listed". The Long War Journal. Public Multimedia Inc.. http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/2009/08/pakistans_most_wanted_look_at.php. Retrieved September 2, 2009. 
  88. ^ Mir, Amir (September 1, 2009). "The top ten most wanted Jehadis". The News International (Jang Multimedia). http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=196050. Retrieved September 26, 2009. "He later shifted his base to the Waziristan region and joined hands with Baitullah Mehsud." 
  89. ^ "Pakistan and the Taliban". The Economist. August 7, 2009. http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14201152. Retrieved 2009–09–26. "[Baitullah Mehsud] was also associated with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi." 
  90. ^ Khan, Anwarullah (November 6, 2008). "Bomber hits anti-militant tribal jirga; 16 dead". Dawn Media Group. http://www.dawn.com/2008/11/07/top1.htm. Retrieved November 8, 2008. 
  91. ^ a b "Lahore 'was Pakistan Taleban op'". BBC News. March 31, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7973540.stm. Retrieved March 31, 2009. 
  92. ^ Ali, Mohammad Faisal (March 31, 2009). "Baitullah claims responsibility for Manawan attack". Dawn Media Group. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/attack-on-police-academy-leaves-8-dead--150-injured--il. Retrieved March 31, 2009. 
  93. ^ "Pakistani Taliban chief Mehsud claims U.S. shooting". Thomson Reuters. April 4, 2009. http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-38880020090404. Retrieved April 4, 2009. 
  94. ^ Shinwari, Ibrahim (August 28, 2009). "Taliban claim responsibility for Khyber suicide attack". Dawn News. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/pre-iftar+suicide+blast+kills+22+border+guards. Retrieved August 28, 2009. 
  95. ^ Ahmad, Munir; Ravi Nessman, Ishtiaq Mahsud and Hussain Afzal (October 6, 2009). "Taliban claim responsibility for deadly UN blast". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091006/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan. Retrieved October 6, 2009. 
  96. ^ Khan, Riaz; Ishtiaq Mahsud, Babar Dogar (October 12, 2009). "Pakistan says 41 killed in market bombing". Associated Press (Yahoo! News). http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091012/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  97. ^ Hussain, Zahid; Rehmat Mehsud (October 15, 2009). "Wave of Deadly Attacks in Pakistan". Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company, Inc.). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125557894653686797.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews. Retrieved October 15, 2009. "Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the Lahore attacks, according to a private TV news channel, GEO News." 
  98. ^ "Taliban Video Claims Responsibility for The Times Square Attack May 2, 2010". May 2, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKIwNQvDsM. Retrieved May 6, 2009. 
  99. ^ "Fifty-six killed, over 100 injured in Mohmand attack". Dawn. 2010-07-09. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-mohmand-blast-qs-02. Retrieved 2010-07-09. 
  100. ^ "Taliban claim Nato tanker attack". Al Jazeera. 2010-10-04. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/10/201010413141352242.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
  101. ^ "Suicide bombers kill 40 in Mohmand Agency". Dawn.com. 2010-12-05. http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/06/eight-killed-in-mohmand-explosion.html. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
  102. ^ "Taliban claims Pakistan blasts; 50 dead". UPI.com. 2010-12-06. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/12/06/Two-blasts-kill-at-least-40-in-Pakistan/UPI-47441291637841/. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
  103. ^ "Dozens killed in Pakistan blasts". Al Jazeera. 2010-12-07. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/12/2010126102747454135.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
  104. ^ "Taliban kidnap 23 tribesmen near South Waziristan". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2010-12-27. http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/27/taliban-kidnap-23-tribesmen-near-south-waziristan.html. Retrieved 2011-02-08. 
  105. ^ "NATO lorries torched in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. 2011-01-15. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/01/201111517248680630.html. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 
  106. ^ "Senior police official among six killed in Peshawar blasts". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2011-01-31. http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/31/blast-in-peshawar.html. Retrieved 2011-01-31. 
  107. ^ "Pakistan attack: 'Schoolboy' suicide bomber hits Mardan". BBC News. 2011-02-10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12413469. Retrieved 2011-02-10. 
  108. ^ Khan, Haq Nawaz; Karin Brulliard (2011-02-11). "Teen suicide bomber kills army recruits in Pakistan". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021000674.html. Retrieved 2011-02-10. "Officials maintain that the 17-year-old bomber was the only person involved in the attack. But Umar Hassan Ihravi, a spokesman for the area's Pakistani Taliban chapter, claiming responsibility for the attack, told reporters in the area that the bombing was carried out by two militants. One, he said, served as a lookout and escaped after the attack. Ihravi did not say how old the bomber was." 
  109. ^ "Body of Col Imam found near Mir Ali". Daily Times. 2011-02-21. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\02\21\story_21-2-2011_pg7_14. Retrieved 2011-03-04. 
  110. ^ Yusufzai, Rahimullah (2011-02-23). "The long wait for Col Imam’s body". The News International. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=4183&Cat=13&dt=2/23/2011. 
  111. ^ "Former ISI Colonel Imam’s body found". Dawn.com (Dawn Media). 2011-02-20. http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/20/former-isi-colonel-imam-body-found.html. 
  112. ^ "Deadly attack at Pakistan funeral procession". BBC News (BBC). 2011-03-09. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12684954. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 
  113. ^ "Blast kills 36 in Peshawar; Taliban claim responsibility". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2011-03-09. http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/09/blast-reported-in-peshawar.html. Retrieved 2011-03-09. 
  114. ^ "DG Khan shrine bombing: Death toll reaches 50". The Express Tribune. 3 April 2011. http://tribune.com.pk/story/142210/militants-attack-shrine-in-dg-khan-3-dead/. 
  115. ^ "41 killed in Pakistan shrine suicide attack". The Daily Telegraph (London). 3 April 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8424930/41-killed-in-Pakistan-shrine-suicide-attack.html. 
  116. ^ a b "Bomb hits Pakistan navy bus in Karachi; 5 dead". Google News (The Associated Press). 2011-04-28. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jpHEdPNWU78d3sNXQ_h-pox3xx4w?docId=0c131bbba3c84900a1f7f1d26f4b4298. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
  117. ^ "Twin blasts kill more than 80 in Charsadda". Dawn.com (Dawn Media Group). 2011-05-13. http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/13/twin-blasts-kill-at-least-three-in-charsadda-dawnnews.html. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 
  118. ^ "Pakistan: Troops end attack on Karachi naval air base". BBC News. 2011-05-23. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127. Retrieved 2011-05-25. 
  119. ^ "Suicide bomber kills 6 at Pakistan police building". AP (The Associated Press). 2011-05-25. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hiq2yiR9QpCxQIK5SBvvbYu8bgVg?docId=4cf68cfd30c7403d8bb0ed5ecf6a9c43. Retrieved 2011-05-25. 
  120. ^ Ali, Lehaz (September 14, 2011). "Bus attack kills four boys in Pakistan". Agence France-Presse. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/bus-attack-kills-four-boys-in-pakistan-20110914-1k84a.html. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  121. ^ "TTP claims killing of peace body chief". The News International. 2011-12-02. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=80477&Cat=7&dt=12/2/2011. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  122. ^ Dupee, Matt (2011-12-02). "Anti-Taliban tribal leader killed in northwest Pakistan". The Long War Journal (Public Multimedia Inc.). http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/12/anti-taliban_tribal.php. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
The Taliban movement branch in Waziristan (FATA), approximately 35,000 members
Leaders
Spokesmen
Alleged/claimed actions
See also