Former cricketer and the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is caught between the “Good” Taliban which are ruling Afghanistan and the “Bad” Taliban Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has waged war against the Pakistani government since 2007. The TTP swears allegiance with the Taliban and calls itself a branch of the Taliban in Pakistan.
But on Friday, the Taliban, which are brokering the peace between the TTP and Imran Khan government, declared that the TTP is not a part of the Taliban, “They are not, as an organization, part of IEA and we don’t share the same objectives. We advise TTP to focus on peace and stability in their country. And we request Pakistan to look into their demands for the better of the region and Pakistan,” Afghan Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Arab News hours later when the TTP called off the month-long ceasefire deal with the Pakistani government and asked its fighters start the fresh attacks against Pakistani army.
Few hours later on Friday itself, Mujahid criticised the Imran Khan government in a TV interview.
“Pakistan's political framework does not represent an Islamic system. Their system is not Islamic. Religion is not important to Pakistan’s government,” Mujahid said.
Watch Video :
Taliban’s spokesman criticized #Pakistan’s government.
Zabihullah Mujahid said:
Pakistan's political framework does not represent an Islamic system. Their system is not Islamic. Religion is not important to Pakistan’s government.
Alarming news for Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/jsDE4frwC0
— Hashim Wahdatyar (@HashimWahdatyar) December 10, 2021
For Pakistan and Afghan analysts, the disclaimer issued by the Afghan Taliban regarding the TTP is another ploy by the Taliban because “they may not be on paper, but TTP, the Haqqanis, and al-Qaeda have for years housed and supported each other. What’s the game here,” wonders Bilawal Sarwary, an Afghan expert.
“TTP and Afghan Taliban both are playing googly against Pakistan. Worst is Afghan Taliban’s hesitancy for action against TTP. They're trying to play on both sides of the wickets which will not help them in any matter,” said Pakistani journalist Malik Khurram Khan adding that It was the Imran Khan government which has been putting pressure on the Taliban leadership to take action against TTP, “Now Taliban says it has no relations with the TTP, whom they are trying to fool?”
According to security analysts who have been sceptical of the Taliban’s Haqqanis brokering the peace between the TTP and Imran Khan government, if the Taliban take action against TTP, there will be terrible consequences. There would be an internal conflict among the Afghan Taliban, as there would be opinions about how to take action against the same ideological group, who did nothing wrong but desired Sharia in an Islamic country.
Earlier the Taliban was solely dependent on Pakistanis but there are now many more players who are eagerly courting the Taliban regime. Another point is the Islamic State and the Taliban needs TTP to counter its arch rival so all these talks of ceasefire, “is part of a war strategy of the TTP and the Taliban. According to them, this is not the end of the war, but is a part of the war.” Amir Rana, a security analyst and director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute of Peace Meanwhile the TTP has released a audio clip of its chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, who says that like Afghan Taliban fought for years to overthrow the government in Kabul through jihad and now rule under Islamic Sharia law, similarly TTP has also taken the same approach with Pakistan. If TTP can reach its goals via negotiations, then that's welcome, otherwise jihad is continuing anyway.
{EXCLUSIVE} Latest message from Mufti Noor Wali Maseed, leader of TTP Taliban{Urdu} #Pakistan #Afghanistan #Waziristan #Taliban #IEA #TTP #ARYNewsUrdu pic.twitter.com/CuAwXVTsVU
— Beroj Maseed {Waziristan} {🦁} {🏳️}{☝️} (@PashtunPoet) December 10, 2021
Also Read: Pakistan Taliban calls off ceasefire with Imran Khan govt, declares itself branch of Afghan Taliban
