Makeen: Pakistani Taliban fighters are committed to helping the fight in Afghanistan and consider Barack Obama their "No 1 enemy”, a top commander said amid uncertainty about whether a new leader has been appointed to head the movement.
Waliur Rehman made the remarks in an interview on Sunday at a time of intense speculation over the next leader of the al Qaeda-allied group. A CIA missile strike on August 05 is believed to have killed former chief Baitullah Mehsud. Rehman, a cousin of Baitullah, is seen as a strong candidate for the post.
Rehman said on Saturday that Baitullah had given him full control over the network and that a new leader "would be chosen within five days”. Rehman made no reference to Hakimullah Mehsud, whose aides said separately later Saturday that he had been chosen as new leader during a meeting on Friday.
Rehman's comments cast doubt on whether Hakimullah's appointment had been agreed by all top Taliban members, and could indicate splits over succession within the movement of up to 25,000 fighters.
Rehman met the AP in a forest near Makeen village in the heart of the semiautonomous lands close to the Afghan border where al Qaeda and the Taliban hold sway. Looking healthy and dressed in clean, ironed clothes, he was accompanied by five armed guards.
American officials are watching closely to see who succeeds Baitullah, in particular whether the new leader will direct more fighters across the border where US and NATO forces are facing soaring attacks by insurgents. Baitullah was believed to have mainly concentrated on attacking Pakistani targets.
"We are with Afghan Taliban. We will keep on helping them until America and its allies are expelled," he said, adding this did not mean an end to attacks in Pakistan. "American President Obama and his allies are our enemy No 1," he said. "We will sacrifice our bodies, hearts and money to fight them."
Like most other members of the Taliban network, he insisted Baitullah was alive but sick, hence the need for a new chief. US and Pakistani officials are almost certain he is dead, especially since the Taliban have provided no proof he is alive.
Two close aides to another commander, Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, said on Saturday a 42-member Taliban council, or shura, had appointed Hakimullah their new leader in an unanimous decision on Friday.
"Now all these talks of differences should end," said one of the aides, Bakht Zada. "There have not been any differences ever."
Mohammed Amir Rana, an expert on Pakistani militant groups, said he believed the Taliban had not agreed on a replacement.
"Maulvi Faqir Mohammad is trying to manipulate the race by announcing to the press that Hakimullah is the head," he said. "Until now there is no consensus," he said, adding that supporters of Waliur Rehman did not accept him.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government had received intelligence reports about Hakimullah's appointment "as the chief terrorist" but there was no official confirmation. The Dawn newspaper quoted one unidentified intelligence officer as saying the announcement "was a ruse" as part of the ongoing power struggle.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, August 24, 2009, 11:55