Pakistani Taliban Sent Hundreds of Militants to Join Syria Terrorists

Local Editor

A Pakistani branch of the Taliban sent hundreds of men to Syria to fight alongside armed groups. The militant organization has reportedly set up camps, aiming to foster ties with al-Qaeda's central leadership.

Taliban commanders told Reuters on Sunday that they decided to join the cause in Syria in order to fight alongside their so-called "Mujahedeen friends."
"When our brothers needed our help, we sent hundreds of fighters along with our Arab friends," one senior commander said, mentioning that his group would be providing the general public with videos of their "victories" in Syria.

One commander told the agency that the help was sent at the request of "Arab friends."
"We have established our own camps in Syria. Some of our people go and then return after spending some time fighting there," a Pakistani Taliban commander said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Since our Arab brothers have come here for our support, we are bound to help them in their respective countries and that is what we did in Syria," he added.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan [TTP] is known for its affiliation with the al-Nusra front, recognized as a branch of al-Qaeda. The majority of Pakistani Taliban groups work under the banner of the TTP.

They operate in Pakistan's insurgency-plagued areas along the Afghan border, seeking to topple Pakistan's government.
Prominent Pakistani author and Taliban expert Ahmed Rashid told Reuters that sending Taliban fighters would be regarded as an act of loyalty by al-Qaeda.

"The Pakistani Taliban has remained a sort surrogate of al-Qaeda. We've got all these foreigners up there in Federally Administered Tribal Areas who are being looked after or trained by the Pakistani Taliban," said Rashid. He explained that the fighters are like global "jihadists", and drew the conclusion that they are aiming to "cement relationships with the Syrian militant groups."
 
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team