Posted on 08/10/2009 12:34:53 PM PDT by gandalftb
A feud following Baitullah’s death was a battle to control Rs 2 billion Taliban funds and ownership of arms and ammunition worth about Rs 1 billion by grabbing the the leadership of the Taliban.
The battle for the Taliban treasure erupted when Hakimullah and Waliur Rehman, claimed succession.
“There is a constant flow of tens of millions of dollars from foreign enemy sources that keeps the Taliban machine rolling,” a senior security official said.”
Intelligence officials believe money for the Pakistani Taliban was either buried in various caves in the tribal areas or it was stashed in various bank accounts in Pakistan and in some Gulf states.
Baitullah’s coffers expanded so much last year that he sent one of his cousins to Dubai for cash investment in various real estate projects.
“It was not theft, Baitullah just wanted to bolster Taliban reserves because of growing expenses,” said a Karachi-based Mehsud tribesman.
When a Taliban commander informed Baitullah about huge monetary offers he was receiving from Pakistani officials to surrender, Baitullah’s answer was: “Money is not with the government of Pakistan. Money is with me, tell me how much you want.” Officials concede he conveniently outbid them.
Baitullah was convinced by al-Qaeda that South Waziristan would emerge as an “Islamic Emirate” and he would be declared as its first Amir.
Baitullah was supervising a smooth system of cash deliveries ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 to his fighters. Sustenance allowance reached the families of those killed in action.
Iramuddin, the man who gave his young daughter to Baitullah Mehsud in marriage last year, was the custodian of some of the key financial secrets.
Intelligence officials watched with keen interest that when Hakimullah and Waliur Rehman groups clashed, each of them tried to kidnap Ikramuddin, who was there to arrange a negotiated succession agreement. Ikramuddin was taken away by injured Waliur Rehman.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenews.jang.com.pk ...
Frankly, fighting over money makes more sense than fighting over the Taliban leadership.
Baitullah had created a number of "Bait ul Mal" as centers for collection and distribution of zakat (charitable tax) and sadaqa (additional contributions). They are nothing more than fake charities that sometimes offer relief but are money laundering covers for drug and weapons trading and smuggling. The Taliban charges a heavy toll for all freight haulers.
Too bad international law enforcement doesn’t have the guts to crack bown on Taliban finances.
Don’t most terrorist groups finally become just criminal mobs? I recall similar battles for cash and control among the IRA and Palies.
We are talking in this article about the so called Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan (Taleban Movement of Pakistan) as distinct from the Afghan Taliban.
The PakTal have been characterized as motivated by tribal power. While occasionally aiding and abeting Afghan Taliban, they are more interested in securing autonomy from the Pakistan government?
Taleban in turmoil as rivals draw guns at each other in fight for leadership
yitbos
Showing that at the end of the day, it’s all about money (not religion), will hopefully reduce the likelihood that rich “good” Muslims send more of their money to finance these common thugs.
A very interesting religion.
According to the lead article of this thread, it was all about control of huge amounts of money.! I would say the motives sure were material!
Pakhtuns are now fight promoters on top of being drug and weapons dealers, kidnappers, loan sharks, hijackers, and toll collectors.
There are 24 million of them without a single college or university or regional hospital or professional sports team or law enforcement agency of their own.
Sounds like they need a community organizer. I know one they could have.
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