Pakistani Taliban splits; Fazal Haqqani forms Taliban Islami

From Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad (PTI) - A Taliban commander in
Pakistan's volatile tribal belt has broken away from the
militant outfit to form his own group as he is opposed to
suicide attacks on mosques and civilians.
Fazal Saeed Haqqani, a commander in the Kurram tribal
region, separated from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and
formed the Tehrik-e-Taliban Islami, Geo News channel reported.
Haqqani told the media that he had taken this step to
protest suicide attacks on mosques and civilians.
The channel quoted its sources as saying that Haqqani
earlier led TTP fighters in Kurram Agency and had step up
training centres in several areas.
In the past, Haqqani's associates kidnapped people and
kept them in their training centres.
They would then kill their captives or release them
after being paid ransom, the channel reported.
Observers said the move by Haqqani could be part of
efforts by the government and security forces to engineer a
split in the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is led by
Hakimullah Mehsud.
There was no word from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
on the development.