Why Mehsud is claiming responsibility for attacks**
Former ISI official says power struggle forcing Mehsud to take credit for attacks
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Baitullah Mehsud’s claims of responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan may indicate jockeying for power among militant groups, analysts say.
“There is an internal power struggle going on now,” a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) station chief in Peshawar told MSNBC. “When [Mehsud] thinks that someone new is coming up and could overshadow him, he kills him.”
Mehsud first gained attention by sending suicide bombers into Afghanistan to attack US and NATO forces. Then in 2007 he declared war on Pakistan, forming the Tehreek-e-Taliban to target the Pakistan Army for supporting the US in Afghanistan.
A former Mehsud lieutenant from another tribe first claimed responsibility for the attack. That seemed to have forced Mehsud to quickly call local reporters and take ‘ownership’. The two commanders often argue, according to a Taliban leader. “The Lahore attack could have been his [Mehsud’s] idea, but he could not have done it without some help from the Punjabis,” said a Pakistani intelligence official. “What’s more, all of these Punjabi groups have splintered and shifted in part out of the Punjab and into the Tribal Areas to band, but not always bond, with the Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda. … Mehsud has become very powerful among the tribal militants, but he may be feeling the heat from the Punjabis. … They are better trained … and perhaps even more motivated than his men. While there is increasing coordination among the groups, all of them may not want to take orders from him.”
Taliban will never be able to "capture" Islamabad, or any other urban population center in Pakistan for that matter. They can however destroy (in the social and economic sense) any and every city of Pakistan over time.
Taliban are not a credible "military" force. There options are limited to intimidation of population and "terror" (in the literal sense) through mass killings and destruction of government institutions. These tactics have worked well for them in the rugged Northwest and rural Swat but it won't be as easy to 'overtake' Lahore or Islamabad. No matter how indifferent Pakistanis have been to Taliban destruction, our government and army will put a strong resistance against any organized attempt to capture any cities. Imagine a couple of thousands Taliban fkers trying to overrun the Parliament building. In such a situation all usual restraints will be off and a few gunships and an army unit will take them out. As somebody else on this forum said when it comes to fighting in the battleground (instead of blowing up mosques), these "courageous Pushtuns" were last seen fleeing Kabul on motorcycles.
With that said, Taliban do pose a different kind of threat. With their constant stream of suicide attacks they are destroying the economy of our country and distracting the government from focusing on any development activities. Taliban's idea of a victory is to burn down their own house in hopes of "embarrassing" their enemy. This is what Iraqi Alqaida did in Iraq: killed more iraqis themselves than were killed by the U.S. in hopes of creating anarchy in the country and embarrassing the United States. This is what they have been doing in Afghanistan and lucky for us, Pakistan is the battleground now!
So should we be concerned that Islamabad and Lahore will soon be run by Taliaban: probably not. Should we worry that they the shops you pick up your groceries at is their next target: you bet!
What Taliban and their symphathizers don't understand is that it doesn't matter whom they are fighting against and why they are fighting, as long as the battleground is Pakistan, we as Pakistanis are the losers.
Taliban will never be able to "capture" Islamabad, or any other urban population center in Pakistan for that matter. They can however destroy (in the social and economic sense) any and every city of Pakistan over time.
Taliban are not a credible "military" force. There options are limited to intimidation of population and "terror" (in the literal sense) through mass killings and destruction of government institutions. These tactics have worked well for them in the rugged Northwest and rural Swat but it won't be as easy to 'overtake' Lahore or Islamabad. No matter how indifferent Pakistanis have been to Taliban destruction, our government and army will put a strong resistance against any organized attempt to capture any cities. Imagine a couple of thousands Taliban fkers trying to overrun the Parliament building. In such a situation all usual restraints will be off and a few gunships and an army unit will take them out. As somebody else on this forum said when it comes to fighting in the battleground (instead of blowing up mosques), these "courageous Pushtuns" were last seen fleeing Kabul on motorcycles.
With that said, Taliban do pose a different kind of threat. With their constant stream of suicide attacks they are destroying the economy of our country and distracting the government from focusing on any development activities. Taliban's idea of a victory is to burn down their own house in hopes of "embarrassing" their enemy. This is what Iraqi Alqaida did in Iraq: killed more iraqis themselves than were killed by the U.S. in hopes of creating anarchy in the country and embarrassing the United States. This is what they are doing in Afghanistan even now and have ramped up in Pakistan recently.
So should we be concerned that Islamabad and Lahore will soon be run by Taliaban: probably not. Should we worry that they the shops you pick up your groceries at is their next target: you bet!
What Taliban and their symphathizers don't understand is that it doesn't matter whom they are fighting against and why they are fighting, as long as the battleground is Pakistan, we as Pakistanis are the losers.
Right, as if Pakistan was much more focused on development activities before the Taliban came.
For 47 years, we've been fighting India or Taliban? I would really like to know.
The fear tactics of 'muslim extremists' have only transferred from the west to Pakistan, and I applaud the pakistani people for falling victim to it.
It is as relevant a reply as your dismissive tidbit that you were the President of Mongolia. Mongolia must stink to high heaven!
It made sense when I made that post. Because any critically thinking human being can tell you that Taliban are not taking over Islamabad. Its far fetched as my sarcastic presidency of Mongolia.
However your post regarding my reply to you was irrelevant. Please contribute to the discussion with a better reply.
Infact this news tell us that these thugs are fighting our power… and Bait ullah kills anyone he is threaten from… ( well this ring bell.. we had somebody with same character in Karachi now fled to UK)… this is sort a good news.. taliban is no longer fighting for so-called Islam, their focus is shifted and now they are fighting for power… this is first sign of FALL…
hang on their more bad news for you is on the way i..e taliban will start fighting amoung themselves and hopes about disintegration of Pakistan will fall apart…
The most important point which is missed from the news link is this --
[quote]
He accused the Pakistan Army of sending spies to facilitate US drone strikes against Al Qaeda and Taliban, and said Pakistani authorities were misleading the public by saying it was the United States carrying out the attacks.
“All these attacks that have happened and are still happening are the work of Pakistan,” he said, according to a transcript of the interview posted on Al-Sahab’s website.
[/quote]
My question is, when both pakistani people and pakistani government are against Taliban then why they are shying away from declaring publicly that Pakistan's intention is to eliminate Taliban and for that pakistan will not hesitate in taking any measure even if it includes facilitating drone attacks at Talibani positions.
IMO, Taliban spokesperson is dead right when he says that pakistani government is misleading the public by blaming drone attack on US, beacuse everyone knew when none other than US authorities themsleves said that drones are indeed launched from Pak Army bases.
Infact this news tell us that these thugs are fighting our power... and Bait ullah kills anyone he is threaten from... ( well this ring bell.. we had somebody with same character in Karachi now fled to UK)... this is sort a good news.. taliban is no longer fighting for so-called Islam, their focus is shifted and now they are fighting for power... this is first sign of FALL....
hang on their more bad news for you is on the way i..e taliban will start fighting amoung themselves and hopes about disintegration of Pakistan will fall apart...
That's what i'm trying to point out...their is till hope that the talib will slaughter each other on their way to isloo. They already did a good amount of slaughtering previously when 250 mostly uzbeks were killed in infighting.
Point being, they are not fighting for islam and definitely not for pakistan. They are fighting for power like any other warlord or feudal would. Only difference is that use islam as their cause, but we know that is a lie.
The fear tactics of 'muslim extremists' have only transferred from the west to Pakistan, and I applaud the pakistani people for falling victim to it.
Good luck.
Maybe you didn't get the memo, but Taliban pretty much control most of NWFP now & the govt and army has been beaten into submission & forced to signed agreements handing vast areas over to Taliban. For these invading hordes of terrorists, it seems nothing will stop them b/c half of army & ISI are supporting them. We're at tipping point & once we cross this point it will be point of no return.
To this day, jamatis consider lal masjid terrorists as heroes killed by shia/kaafir pakistani commandos.
Do you think Jamaties have any credibility with them...
they can whine as much as they want.. but this will be the fate of Terrorist coming and setting you center in Pakistan... sooner or later this Talib will see the same fate and i am sure, Jamaties will whine again saying how Pak-Army & Commandoes killed these B*****Ds...
That's what i'm trying to point out...their is till hope that the talib will slaughter each other on their way to isloo. They already did a good amount of slaughtering previously when 250 mostly uzbeks were killed in infighting.
Point being, they are not fighting for islam and definitely not for pakistan. They are fighting for power like any other warlord or feudal would. Only difference is that use islam as their cause, but we know that is a lie.
Yup lets hope "Some body" will fuel this fire... beginning of the end have started
Re: Taliban will soon capture Islamabad, says Mullah Nazeer
Well this must not happen because their are also many wrong things in taliban against Islam. there are many things which must be understood by both taliban and our government.
It made sense when I made that post. Because any critically thinking human being can tell you that Taliban are not taking over Islamabad. Its far fetched as my sarcastic presidency of Mongolia.
However your post regarding my reply to you was irrelevant. Please contribute to the discussion with a better reply.
But do you want the Taliban to take over Islamabad?
The most important point which is missed from the news link is this --
My question is, when both pakistani people and pakistani government are against Taliban then why they are shying away from declaring publicly that Pakistan's intention is to eliminate Taliban and for that pakistan will not hesitate in taking any measure even if it includes facilitating drone attacks at Talibani positions.
IMO, Taliban spokesperson is dead right when he says that pakistani government is misleading the public by blaming drone attack on US, beacuse everyone knew when none other than US authorities themsleves said that drones are indeed launched from Pak Army bases.
You can't fight terror with two minds!!
That is because the Pakistani public is very stupid
Any attacks on these Taliban animals which are coordinated by Pakistan and USA will give sympathy to these bearded beasts among Pakistani Public
Thats why Pakistan and USA are playing good cop and bad cop with Pakistani people.