Pakistan has decided to seek military action by the US and NATO forces against Maulvi Fazlullah, chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter who is currently hiding in Afghanistan and is responsible for ordering the failed assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai.
Pakistan has been long urging the US and other NATO member states as well as Afghan authorities to eliminate the hideouts of Fazlullah, also known as ‘Radio Mullah’ and hundreds of his followers, who crossed over the border into Afghanistan after being defeated in 2009 by the army in a military offensive in Swat. The life attempt on Malala has, however, led the Pakistani authorities to conclude that there was no other option but to get rid of Fazlullah and his followers and for that, US would be urged afresh and asked strongly to launch military action against the fugitive Taliban leader, believed to be hiding in Kunar and Nuristan provinces of Afghanistan.
Pakistani investigators were already suspecting the involvement of Fazlullah in the failed attempt assassination attempt on Malala. But on Friday, Sirajuddin Ahmad, a spokesman for the Swat Taliban, told a foreign news wire service that two killers from Fazlullah’s special hit squad had been sent to target the young schoolgirl, thus confirming the suspicions of officials probing into the unfortunate incident.
“Pakistan has also contemplated upon going for the ‘hot pursuit’ against Fazlullah and his fellow militants, who have in the recent past carried out several deadly attacks on Pakistani border posts from the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan and killed dozens of the Pakistani soldiers in Dir and Chitral districts in the process,” said a source, seeking anonymity. Nonetheless, Pakistani authorities’ first priority was to demand the US and NATO go for action against the Radio Mullah, take him out and eliminate all hideouts of the Swat Taliban on Afghan soil.
The source said the attack on Malala by Fazlullah group could also be a part of Taliban plan to restart their movement in Swat and Pakistani authorities were looking into the possibility. A Pakistani diplomat said on condition of anonymity that Pakistan would take up the Fazlullah issue with the United States soon.
However, he also confirmed the disappointment in the Pakistani policy-making circles over the lack of action by the US and NATO forces so far against the terrorists wanted by Islamabad for serious crimes in Swat, Dir, Chitral and Bajaur Agency.
“We hope our allies would not fail us now on this count and take swift and effective military action against Fazlullah and hundreds of other terrorists who have been involved in the killing of Pakistani citizens and soldiers,” he said.
Pakistan wants anti-Taliban drive on both sides of border
