The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) withdrew their offer of peace talks on Thursday, following the death of the group’s deputy leader in an American drone attack, a spokesman for the insurgent group said.
The news is a blow to the incoming government of Nawaz Sharif, elected partly on promises to bring about peace after years of deadly attacks by militants against civilians and security forces.
Talking from an undisclosed location, TTP Spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan confirmed that the group’s second-in-command, Waliur Rehman, was killed on Wednesday in an American drone attack in the tribal areas of Pakistan that border Afghanistan.
Officials said at the time that at least four other militants were killed in the attack.
Earlier, intelligence officials had said that Rehman was buried at an undisclosed location.
Two intelligence officials said that informants on the ground told them that Rehman was buried on Wednesday night. Two militants claimed they attended the funeral. All four spoke on the condition of anonymity.
US NOT SURE
Earlier in the day, the United States said it was not in a position to confirm Rehman’s reported death.
A White House spokesman also indicated that the US would continue drone strikes against high level al Qaeda militants and those threatening to attack American troops deployed in Afghanistan until 2014 drawdown.
“We are not in a position to confirm the reports of Waliur Rehman’s death,” Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
He, however, added, “If those reports (about death of Waliur Rehman) were true or proved to be true, it’s worth noting that his demise would deprive the TTP of its second-in-command and chief military strategist.”
Carney noted that Rehman has “participated in cross border attacks in Afghanistan against US and NATO personnel and horrific attacks against Pakistani civilians and soldiers”.
President Barack Obama’s spokesman added that Rehman had also been wanted in connection with the murder of seven Americans in a forward operating base in Khost, Afghanistan, in a suicide blast in 2009.
His remarks, coming after President Obama’s speech committing US to greater transparency and oversight on drone operations, indicated that the US would continue drone strikes against terrorism suspects in the Afghan war theater until 2014.
“That means we will continue to take strikes against high-value al Qaeda targets but also against forces that are massing for support attacks on coalition forces,” he said, referring to the US president’s remarks in a major speech.
“By the end of 2014, we will no longer have the same need for force protection… and the progress we have made against core al Qaeda will reduce the need for unmanned strikes.”
NEW TTP DEPUTY:
Meanwhile, Khan Said aka Sajana Mehsud was nominated to succeed Rehman as the TTP second-in-command. Said is believed to be a close aide of Rehman.
The militant group had said earlier that it was open to peace talks. But Ihsan said on Thursday that the Taliban believe the government approves of the drone strikes so they are withdrawing their offer of peace talks.
‘‘We had made the offer for peace talks with the government with good intention but we think that these drone attacks are carried out with the approval of the government so we announce the end of the talks process,’’ he said.
The TTP, formed in late 2007, aims to overthrow the government, which it believes is too closely aligned with the United States. The militant group has been responsible for hundreds of shootings and bombings across Pakistan that have resulted in thousands of deaths.
Earlier this year the group had indicated it was open to the idea of peace talks to end years of fighting if certain individuals, including two-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif were involved.
The talks did not go anywhere at the time but the victory of Sharif’s party at the polls on May 11 once again brought the issue to the forefront.
Days after the election, Nawaz, who is set to become prime minister for a third time, called for peace talks with the Taliban militants. He said the Taliban offers to talk should be taken seriously.
TTP will always act like a spoiled brat, threatening to walk out of agreements if things didn't go its way. How can one negotiate this terrorist organization who kills its own unarmed civilians?
NS and Kiyani are slaves of USA. The drones will continue and TTP will continue to attack. NS has already support drone attacks. .http://www.pakistantoday.mbt.pk/2013/05/30/news/national/nawaz-assures-us-of-anti-terror-cooperation/
It is the US acting like a spoiled brat.The last thing they need is peace in Pakistan ,that is why they immediatly reacted and launched this Drone attack.Our troika does not like to hinder US policy.It is amazing that US knows whereabouts of TTP but we do not!!All those who beat their chest saying it is their war should answer what people are asking.
All these problems are due to "Great Zia".
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