Secret letter reveals Taliban defied Mullah Omar’s order to restrict operations in Pakistan

WEB DESK: The former Amir of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Omar, had prohibited the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from conducting armed operations in Pakistan.

However, the local Taliban rejected the letter conveying this directive, as revealed by retired Brigadier Mahmood Shah, the former security secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, in an exclusive interview with Hum News.

According to Mahmood Shah, following the American attack on Afghanistan in 2001, the region’s dynamics rapidly changed.

Foreign militants, predominantly Uzbek and Arab extremists, started moving towards the tribal areas. The local Taliban supported and engaged in terrorism in these tribal areas.

Retired Brigadier Mahmood Shah, who served as Home Secretary and later Security Secretary FATA at the time, mentioned that Pakistani security agencies closely monitored the situation.

During this period, they searched for an Afghan Taliban messenger who delivered a letter from Emir Mullah Omar.

The letter was addressed to the local Taliban active in South Waziristan and its young commander, Naik Muhammad.

Despite being an Islamic country facing numerous problems, if Pakistan had assisted America during the attack, it would have been out of compulsion.

According to Mahmood Shah, they made a copy of the letter, returned it to the messenger, and allowed it to reach the Taliban. They then awaited the Taliban’s response.

However, it was reported that the local Taliban, particularly Shura, rejected the letter during the meeting, asserting that the Afghan Taliban were busy forming governments, enjoying themselves, and prohibiting them.

Mahmood Shah remarked that both sides of the Taliban had pledged allegiance to Mullah Omar for their movement. Still, they violated their Emir’s order, and this process of non-compliance continues to this day.

Read next: Markhor population increases in Pakistan