Pakistan Taliban leader in Afghanistan (BBC)

Pakistan Taliban leader in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (UPI) -- Maulana Fazlullah, a notorious Taliban leader in Pakistan's Swat Valley, claims he is in Afghanistan and vows new attacks on Pakistani forces.

The fiery cleric, whose followers were blamed for much of the violence in the northwest Swat region during the summer before the military's offensive, telephoned the BBC Urdu language service Monday.

"I have reached Afghanistan safely. We are soon going to launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat," he told the BBC

Fazlullah's demands to enforce Shariah Islamic law in the Swat region were first accepted by the Pakistani government under a peace deal, the BBC said. But the government later sent troops into the region after accusing the Taliban of not keeping to its commitment.

Pakistani officials had claimed Fazlullah was wounded or killed but that was denied by the Taliban.

A BBC reporter said he has spoken to Fazlullah on several occasions in the past and he recognized the voice on the telephone as Fazlullah.

Fazlullah was quoted as saying there is no need for U.S. President Barack Obama to send more troops to Afghanistan as thousands of "Pakistani soldiers are already involved in furthering the U.S. agenda in the region."

He said those claiming success for the Swat operation should try to prevent suspected U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan.



Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 11/18/2009