Bajaur Agency: The New Landscape of Insurgency in FATA, The Jamestown Foundation // Terrorism Monitor, 12 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Amid conflicting reports that Pakistani Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mahsud has succumbed to his injuries after being targeted in a U.S. drone attack last month, there is also news that the deputy chief of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, has resigned from his position as TTP leader in Bajaur Agency after developing differences with other Taliban leaders in the region. Maulvi Faqir has been replaced as TTP leader in Bajaur by Maulvi Mohammad Jamal ud-Din. Maulvi Faqir was a close confidante of Baitullah Mahsud, the former TTP chief who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in August, 2009. When there was a vacuum in leadership after Baitullah’s death, Maulvi Faqir declared himself the new chief of the TTP. He later withdrew from the position when the Taliban shura (council) appointed Hakimullah as its leader. Until recently, Maulvi Faqir enjoyed unprecedented control over the Bajaur Taliban and other militant organizations in the area... Since August 2008, Bajaur has seen major anti-terrorist military operations. The Pakistani government claimed to have cleared the area of all sorts of militants in February, 2009, but the claim had little reality on the ground... However, the current military operations in Bajaur are believed to be the first serious offensive there against the Taliban and other local and foreign militants, including Uzbeks and some Arabs"
Read the full article.
Related articles:
Taliban claim responsibility for Bannu attacks, DAWN, 15 February 2010
Troops kill seven Taliban in Bajaur, Daily Times, 15 February 2010
Taliban execute Bajaur tribal leader [blog], The Long War Journal, 27 December 2009
Battle of Bajaur: A critical test for Pakistan's daunted military, The New York Times, 22 September 2008
Related posts:
Military captures Taliban stronghold on Afghan border, 8 February 2010
Troops capture major Taliban base in Bajaur tribal agency, 2 February 2010
Northwest turns volatile following suicide attack, Bajaur offensive, 1 February
Rift among Bajaur Taliban widens as casualties mount, 29 January 2010
Militants regroup in northwest, army responds, 27 November 2009
