TEMPO.CO, Islamabad – Pakistani militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has chosen Mullah Maulana Fazlullah as its new leader to replace Hakimullan Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike recently. The appointment of Fazlullah as TPP's new leader has erased any hope for peace between the Taliban and the government of Pakistan.
Fazlullah was known as "Mullah Radio" for his spreading of propaganda through radio broadcasts. He led a brutal campaign in Swat Valley, Northwest of Pakistan, in 2007-2009, destroying hundreds of schools, enforcing public floggings and beheadings, and killing hundreds of soldiers.
Fazullah made the news headlines again after he ordered the killing of 15-year-old activist, Malala Yousafzai, who speaks against Taliban's violence. TTP will certainly not make peace with Pakistan as Fazlullah has showed strong rejection for peace since the beginning.
The death of Hakimullah has raised tensions in the relationship between the United States and Pakistan. Islamabad claimed that Hakimullah's death came at the wrong time. The country also accused Washington of breaking the peace process because the US drone attack has interrupted a negotiate between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan said that the drone strike was "not just the killing of one person, it's the death of all peace efforts."
Pakistan's fear become aven worse as TTP announced that they will launch an attack as a retaliation for Mehsud's death.
"We will target security forces, government installations, political leaders and police," Asmatullah Shaheen, Head of the Taliban Shura, said.
TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said that the government of Pakistan is a liar for talking about peace but still launching a drone strike.
"We are 100 percent sure that Pakistan fully supports the United States in its drone strikes," Shahid said. "No more peace talks."
RAJU FEBRIAN
