PESHAWAR-
A video released by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JA), a splinter group of militant outfit Tehreek-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP), features a former ‘army doctor’ who has urged officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Military to join TTP, Daily Dawn reported on Friday.
According to the report, the man, flanked by JA spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, introduced himself as Captain Dr Tariq Ali and claimed to have served the army for seven years after passing out with the 18th course of the Army Medical College.
The man also claimed serving in the Frontier Corps Balochistan, 80 Brigade Siachen, and at different postings in Punjab.
He added that he had spent two tenures in the restive tribal areas of North and South Waziristan, refused the third tenure and moved to London about nine years ago where he took surgical training.
“Allah blessed me with the passion of Jihad. I left Britain with an intention to go to Iraq and join Islamic State, but I was arrested on the way and sent to prison in Croatia,” the reported quoted Ali as saying.
He further added that he was then deported to Pakistan where he joined JA.
Calling upon the soldiers and officers to join the militants, Ali criticised the media for spreading a ‘bad image’ of Taliban.
The report adds that the man’s claim have not been independently verified.