'Taliban Commander: We're Fighting for "Independence"', MSNBC World Blog, 18 November 2009
EXCERPT: "In Pakistan, the issue is raised every day in the press and on the streets: Have the Afghan Taliban moved their power base from Kandahar and set-up shop in Quetta? . . . Some colleagues urged me to talk to Mullah Manan, a commander of 70 foot soldiers in Helmand province in Afghanistan, to try to get some answers. . . I was anxious to ask him about the rumors that the Taliban’s shura, or ruling council, had moved to Quetta. 'This is Western propaganda,' he said. 'The only true Taliban shura is the one led by Mullah Omar. It has 29 members and is spread around Afghanistan – some of the members are even holding key government posts. Their identities are known only among the shura members,' Manan explained. . . 'We are not safe in Quetta,' Manan answered, referring to the Taliban forces. 'These days, the Pakistani security forces are looking for us and it is no longer safe to even cross the border to visit friends. Besides,' Manan added, 'we control almost 80 percent of Afghanistan, why should we hide in Pakistan?'"
Read the full story.
Related articles:
Suspected Qaeda operative arrested from Quetta, DAWN, 18 November 2009
The fallout of Quetta drones, The News International, 18 November 2009
British advocate negotiations with the Taliban Quetta Shura [blog], The Long War Journal, 14 November 2009
Balochistan Assembly rejects possible Quetta drone strikes, DAWN, 13 October 2009
Patterson says Quetta Shura high on US list, DAWN, 30 September 2009
Taliban widen Afghan attacks from base in Pakistan, The New York Times, 23 September 2009
