Rift Among Bajaur Taliban Widens, DAWN, 29 January 2010
EXCERPT: "Differences among militants in Bajaur Agency simmering for some time have widened and one group is reported to have replaced local Taliban chief Maulana Faqir Mohammad with Maulana Mohammad Jamal (Maulvi Dadullah). Maulana Faqir was the deputy chief of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud. However, Maulana Jamal’s supporters have contradicted reports about rifts among militants and claimed that Faqir Mohammad had voluntarily quit his position. But Faqir Mohammad’s supporters said he was still the chief of the Bajaur TTP. Sources said that the local Taliban shura had asked Faqir Mohammad to resign but he refused to do so. The shura held a meeting on Wednesday and appointed Maulana Jamal as the new chief and Burhanuddin his deputy. These sources said that a majority of the Taliban were with Maulan a Jamal. According to Taliban sources, differences emerged last summer when Faqir Mohammad asked militants not to resist troops which were advancing towards the militants stronghold of Varr Mamond and most members of the shura opposed his directive."
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Related articles:
Pakistan says 44 militants killed in fighting close to Afghan border, The Canadian Press, 29 January 2010
Pakistani militants fighting one jihad for many reasons, The National, 29 January 2010
Taliban kill pro-govt militia leader in Bajaur, DAWN, 27 January 2010
Three killed, 22 hurt in Bajaur blast: Official, DAWN, 21 January 2010
Related media:
Pakistan's wealth divide and rising militancy [video], Democracy Now!, 29 January 2010
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