Peshawar mosque bombing reveals insurgency within Pakistani Taliban
A suicide attack on a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan has raised the specter of an insurgency within the Pakistani Taliban, AP reports.
The blast, carried out by a suicide bomber, killed more than 90 people at a mosque in a police compound in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan.
Signs of Rebellion
The first signs of an insurgency emerged when a TTP commander, Sirbakaf Mohmand, took credit for the attack on Twitter, but the group denied more than ten hours later, with TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani saying that targeting mosques or religious sites was not their policy.
Khorasani said those who participate in such acts will face punitive action according to the movement’s policy, but did not comment on why a commander took responsibility for the bombing.
Afghan Taliban condemned incident
The Afghan Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks on worshipers in contravention of the tenets of Islam, noting already strained relations between Pakistan and the leaders of the Afghan Taliban, who harbor its leadership and fighters, AP reported.
The TTP seeks strict enforcement of Sharia law, attempts to release members in government custody and a reduced Pakistani military presence in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
Pakistani Taliban step up attacks
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has stepped up attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police, unilaterally ending a months-long ceasefire with the government after failed talks hosted by Afghan Taliban leaders. TTP has repeatedly warned police not to participate in operations against its militants in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Afghan Taliban disown Pakistan fighters
The Taliban reportedly said they would not allow anyone, including the “Pakistani Taliban”, to use Afghan soil to launch attacks on any country, including Pakistan.
But Pakistani officials say there is a disconnect between the words and actions of the Afghan Taliban, who can and are failing to dissuade the Pakistani Taliban from launching attacks inside the country.
The TTP expressed their loyalty to the Afghan Taliban commander, said Abdullah Khan, senior defense analyst at the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, noting that they have their own strategy and agenda.
