Pakistan: Taliban split into two factions in Bajaur Agency
but then today I see a sidebar item at LWJ:
TTP denies differences in Taliban ranks
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* Taliban leaders vow to take revenge for killing of tribesmen in US attacks
By Hasbanullah Khan
KHAR: Senior leaders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Bajaur Agency on Monday denied any differences in the Taliban ranks, and said they had no disagreement with TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud and Maulvi Faqeer Muhammad.
Addressing a press conference, the four senior TTP leaders in Bajaur Agency – Dr Abdul Wahab, Maulvi Abdul Hameed, Commander Hamza and Maulvi Muhammad Munir – said they had no differences with the TTP chief or other leaders and strongly condemned media reports about differences between them.
On July 28, media had reported resignations of the four Taliban leaders and differences in the Taliban ranks in Bajaur tribal district over infighting between two militant organisations in neighbouring Mohmand Agency, which had killed eight members of one group.
“We are part of the TTP. We neither have differences with the TTP nor resigned from it,” the leaders said, adding that they had full confidence in the leadership of Mehsud and Faqir Muhammad.
The TTP leaders claimed that they would continue ‘jihad’ against the US and the policies of President Musharraf and will take revenge for killing of tribesmen in US attacks. They said, however, that TTP Bajaur Agency would fully abide by their peace agreement with the government and will continue its efforts for peace in the agency.