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| India-Pakistan |
| New TTP kingpin Waliur Rahman studied in Faisalabad Madrassa |
| 2009-08-28 |
| [The News (Pak) Top Stories] Maulana Waliur Rahman, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander, who has emerged as the pivotal figure in the banned organization following the death of Baitullah Mahsud, is a 35-year old cleric who studied at a madrassa in Faisalabad. Taliban sources said Waliur Rahman graduated from the Jamia Islamia Imdadia, Faisalabad in 1994. He had studied at local madrassas in his native South Waziristan before seeking admission in the seminary in Faisalabad. Subsequently, he taught for about seven years in a madrassa in Karama in South Waziristan. Some years ago he joined the Taliban movement and started enjoying Baitullah Mahsud's trust. In due course of time he was entrusted responsibility to look after the financial matters of the TTP. "Baitullah trusted him in money matters. He became a close aide to the TTP leader even though his designation was that of a deputy to Baitullah in charge of the organization's finances," said a knowledgeable Mahsud political activist, who requested anonymity. According to Taliban sources, Waliur Rahman's brother Qareebur Rahman was killed when the militants stormed the military fort at Saplatoi in South Waziristan sometime back. The paramilitary Frontier Corps resisted the attack and Qareebur Rahman, along with a number of militants and soldiers, was killed in the fighting. Waliur Rahman's father Asmatullah reportedly suffered heart attack and died when he was informed about his son's death.At one stage in his life and before joining the Taliban militants, Waliur Rahman was associated with Maulana Fazlur Rahman's Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and pursued peaceful politics. He attended the Deoband conference organized by the JUI-F at Taru Jabba near Peshawar on the Grand Trunk Road some years ago.Waliur Rahman belongs to the Malkhel clan of the Manzai sub-tribe of the Mahsuds. He isn't a cousin of Baitullah as wrongly reported in a section of the media. In fact, he and Baitullah belonged to different sections of the Mahsud tribe. Baitullah was from the Shabikhel clan of the Mahsud tribe.Following Baitullah's death in the US drone attack on the night of August 5 on his father-in-law Ikramuddin's house in Zangara village in South Waziristan, Waliur Rahman emerged as a key leader in the TTP. He holds the TTP purse and was privy to Baitullah's secrets. Waliur Rahman was one of the main contenders for Baitullah's job as the TTP head. Tribal sources said his appointment as the TTP head for South Waziristan made him the pivotal figure in the organization. South Waziristan is the TTP headquarters and its major stronghold and any Taliban commander heading the chapter there would control all its fighters and resources. Hakimullah Mahsud no doubt was chosen as the TTP's central head but he would need Waliur Rahman's support and blessings to effectively run the organization that has been weakened by Baitullah's death and the loss of certain other key commanders and bases due to military operations by Pakistan's armed forces. It would be an even bigger challenge to keep the TTP intact in the absence of the powerful figure of Baitullah. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > LOST IDENTITY: THE NEW TALIBAN CHIEFS AND THE FUTURE OF THE TTP; + WHAT THE TALIBAN FEAR MOST! AH-IF = AH-1 COBRA GUNSHIPS. Wally the "Moderate" + Hakeemullak the "Lion". * SAME > US ENVOY DENIES NEW HUGE DEPLOYMENT OF MARINES [only 20 Marines to stand guard at alleged new US "MASSIVE EMBASSY COMPLEX/ DETAINMENT CENTER"?]. IMO the selection of HAKEEMULLAH means a NEW STRATEGIC, POTENS MORE VIOLENT PHASE OF THE AFPAK/REGIONAL + INTERNATIONAL JIHAD IS BEGINNING, one meant to protect and divert from Iran's Nuclearization drive come 2012 [IRAN'S NEW NUKES TO MIL PROTECT JIHADIST GAINS IN ASIA]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-08-28 20:11 |