After Punjabi Taliban, another TTP faction announces not to fight govt

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  • TTP’s Sheheryar Mehsud Group says no longer affiliated with terror outfit led by Mullah Fazlullah

 

Yet another Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction – headed by Sheheryar Mehsud – on Monday disassociated itself from group chief Mullah Fazlullah and denounced terrorist attacks against the government.

The separation indicates strong disagreement between TTP leaders and Mullah Fazlullah, who was made TTP chief after the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike in 2013.

Earlier, TTP Sajna and TTP Punjab had ended association with the umbrella group, while TTP Mohmand had established new branch TTP Ihrar.

After the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, the Sheheryar group had refused to recognise Asmatullah Shaheen as interim TTP chief and had fought with his supporters in clashes that lasted for months and killed scores, including Shaheen himself. The group, after the death of Shaheen, joined hands with Fazlullah who took over the reins of the militant group.

Last week, the feared Punjabi Taliban faction of TTP had announced that it was giving up its armed struggle in Pakistan, and would now pursue the implementation of Sharia in the country through peaceful means.

In a video message and a written statement, Punjabi Taliban chief Ismatullah Muawiya said that after consultation with religious scholars and clerics, and given the prevailing situation in Pakistan, the outfit was ending its armed struggle within the country, limiting its use of force to “infidel forces”.

The Pakistani Taliban had announced a ceasefire earlier this year, where attempts were made to continue peace talks with the government.

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