A senior Taliban commander recently invited three journalists from the Pakistani tribal region for a meeting in South Waziristan. A video handed over to them during the meeting shows Taliban suicide bombers preparing for their mission.
The three journalists met with Commander Shamim Mehsud, Emir of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the Ladah sub-division in South Waziristan in mid-December 2011. The journalists were invited to meet TTP's Emir for the Waziristan region - Maulana Waliur Rehman - but he was busy, and therefore they met with Shamim Mehsud, who is a key Taliban operational commander and aide of Waliur Rehman.
During the meeting, the journalists were handed a video, which shows a training session of Taliban Fidayeen - i.e. suicide bombers – aged between 16 and 30. In the video, Taliban fighters are shown how to defend and snatch weapons from the enemy, i.e. Pakistani soldiers. Wearing masks to hide their identity, the Taliban fighters learn how to launch attack and ambush the enemy from bunkers and hideouts.
In the video, a Taliban trainer asks them whether they would be ready to sacrifice their lives for the noble cause of defending Islam and destroy the infidel forces who are killing innocent Muslim women and children. The Fidayeen answer together, "Yes we are ready to die for Islam."
Commander Shamim Mehsud: "The TTP Would Not Hold Talks With The Government Until After The Enforcement Of Shari'a [in Pakistan]"
According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, during the meeting Shamim Mehsud ruled out any peace talks with the Pakistani government and rejected media reports of "any contacts with the government under the present circumstances."
"The TTP will not hold talks with the government until after the enforcement of Shari'a, the pulling out of security forces from tribal areas, the payment of compensation to tribals for the destruction of their homes and properties, and the release of the Taliban from Pakistani prisons," Shamim Mehsud told the visiting journalists.
According to the report, Shamim Mehsud accused the Pakistani soldiers and the U.S. of uniting against the Taliban Mujahideen, saying that if they have atom bombs, fighter jets, tanks, and other weapons, "we have the assistance of Allah and spirit of Jihad."
"They can't match our Fidayeen squad. The bones of the Fidayeen are bullets and shrapnel, [their] flesh is explosive, and [their] blood is petrol for the infidel forces," the TTP commander said.
According to the report, Commander Shamim Mehsud refuted claims by Pakistani security forces that the government's control has been enforced in the tribal area, saying, "If the security forces are in control, how do we freely run our training, control and command centers?"
The TTP commander added, "American forces are facing defeat in Afghanistan and here in the tribal areas, the Pakistani troops…[are] stuck. After being deceived by America, the security personnel have entered the Mehsud areas [in Waziristan], but now they are facing humiliation here."
Taliban suicide bombers training in South Waziristan
According to the Dawn report, the journalists saw an exchange of fire between security forces and militants. "The Turmken Mujahideen had established camps in an area near the center. Armed militants occupied hilltops and set up bunkers there," it said.
The journalists reached their destination after a drive of 15 hours and another 15 hour walk from Dera Ismail Khan via Shawa North Waziristan. "I am ready to jump in the fire if my commander orders me to do so," a would-be bomber later told one of the journalists. Another Taliban bomber said, "Nobody forced me to take such extreme action. I am ready to die for the cause of Islam and inflict heavy losses to the infidel forces."
Source: www.dawn.com, Pakistan, December 15, 2011.
