Really?

The Tehreek-e-Taliban of Pakistan or TTP the umbrella group for the Taliban fighting against the Pakistan and Afghan government has declared jihad against the Awami National Party (ANP). This Pashtun (remember the Talib are primarily Pashtun) political party who ask for "the promotion of democracy and freedom, the eradication of poverty, the protection of human rights, the combating of extremism in all its forms and the creation of equal opportunities for all citizens. It firmly believes in peace and non-violence as the best way to resolve all issues. It is committed to securing for all the federating units of Pakistan their full political, social and economic rights as equal partners in the federation and their fair share in national progress and prosperity (from the ANP Manifesto)." One of the leaders of the group son was killed last week and this week a suicide bomber struck outside of the grieving families home. Pakistan Daily News reports the TTP released this statement regarding the ANP The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Tuesday that it was the duty of the mujahideen to annihilate the Awami National Party (ANP), as it was “not only the enemy of the Taliban, but Islam as well”. Talking to reporters over telephone from an undisclosed location about the recent attacks on the ANP, TTP spokesman Azam Tariq said Pakhtuns could not tolerate the existence of the ANP in the region, as the party was an enemy of Islam. The spokesman added that it was the need of the hour to exterminate the ANP and the Taliban would continue jihad against the party. Do no get me wrong the ANP are no saints as several members were recently arrested for an attack on a rival political party.

This is where it gets really interesting the ANP is a Pashtun (Pakhtun) political party that is also Muslim. Also remember the TTP swears it does not attack civilians and has actually blamed Blackwater for these attacks in the past. This is a blatent attack on civilians, fellow Pashtuns, and co-religionists. The only reason I can think of for these attacks is that the TTP feels threatened by a Pashtun group that actually wants to join in the state of Pakistan instead of being administered as part of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The TTP has learned well Clauswitz's axiom of "war is a continuation of Politics by another means." By keeping opponents off balance, weak, and more worried about their personal security than getting out and promoting their message the TTP can keep the status quo in the NWFP and FATA. The status quo being virtually no governance in these areas which plays into the TTP and other Taliban and al-Qaeda related groups hands. No governance makes it easier to attack into Afghanistan, Pakistan and also train terrorists for regional and possible global attacks. Also the promotion of peace and tolerance is not one that these cowards want to hear. Bringing the NWFP and the Tribal areas under more central government control will eat into the Talib's opium profits and they really do not want to lose their source of income derived from that.

So far from being the lions of Islam the TTP are showing their true colors as they kill more and more Pakistani civilians. The problem is that the offensives carried out by the Pakistani military chased the TTP into the parts of the NWFP and the FATA that are controlled by the "good" Taliban and the military is very reluctant to take actions against these groups or the land they control.