Islamabad: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday threatened to target top leaders of the ruling coalition’s two main political parties if they continue to support tough measures against the militant group. The TTP, which is considered close to al-Qaeda, explicitly warned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Is. ruling coalition.
A statement issued by the militant group said, “If these two groups stick to their stand and continue to be slaves of the army, action will be taken against their key figures.”
The group warned that “people should avoid getting close to such prominent people.”
It claimed that the TTP was only waging a “jihad” in Pakistan and that “our target is the security agencies occupying the country”.
It pointedly warned Foreign Minister Bilawal, whose mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was killed allegedly by TTP terrorists in a terrorist attack in 2007.
“Though Bilawal is still young, this poor man has not yet seen a war situation,” the statement said, adding that the PPP leader had declared an open war on the TTP.
The group also said that it had not taken action against any political party for a long time but “unfortunately Bilawal Bhutto Zardari gave America the status of a mother to quench his thirst for his mother’s love.”
The terrorist organization also said that Prime Minister Sharif had promised the support of his entire party in the war against TTP to please the US.
TTP spared the religious political parties saying that there is no scope for action against them in TTP’s policy. However, it added that “we also request you (religious parties) to desist from activities against us.”
The warning comes days after the country’s civilian-military leadership met under the banner of the National Security Committee and vowed to show “zero tolerance” for terrorism in the country.
Prime Minister Sharif chaired the NSC meeting, while Bilawal, who had advocated a new policy against the rebels, also participated.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said steps were being taken to deal with the Taliban threat in the light of the decision taken at the National Security Committee meeting.
The NSC, in two separate rounds of meetings since last Friday, decided to show “zero-tolerance” towards terrorist groups.
“The NSC reiterates its resolve of zero tolerance towards terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirms its determination to crack down on any and all entities that resort to violence. This will be dealt with with the full might of the state. Pakistan’s security uncompromising and the government has full authority. A statement issued by the PM’s office after the meeting said that the state would be maintained on every inch of Pakistan’s territory.
The NSC is the apex body for finalizing decisions regarding major security and strategic matters relating to national security.
Asked about TTP’s threat to target leaders of two major political parties, the home minister said there was a “general threat of terrorism” and the government was already taking necessary precautions.
Sanaullah said the government is taking steps to counter terrorism but such measures cannot be publicised. “You will see the implementation of the decisions made in this regard in the coming days,” he said.
Precautionary steps are being taken to deal with the menace, he said.
The minister said the government has adopted a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism, making no distinction between ‘good or bad terrorists’. He said whoever was involved in terrorism was a terrorist.
He also said that efforts are on to bring TTP to the negotiating table but the rebels will have to bow before the law.
“They must first lay down their arms and surrender before the law and the Constitution,” he said. He said that the government is fully committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan.
Sanaullah had said on Tuesday that there would be no talks with TTP or any other terrorist organization.
The External Affairs Minister had earlier also opposed talks with the militants, saying the government would not follow a policy of appeasement.
In November, the TTP called off an indefinite ceasefire with the government in June and ordered its militants to launch attacks on security forces.
TTP, also known as Pakistan Taliban, was established in 2007 as an umbrella group of several terrorist organisations. Its main objective is to enforce its strict brand of Islam throughout Pakistan.
Pakistan had hoped that after coming to power, the Afghan Taliban would stop using their soil against Pakistan by expelling TTP operatives, but they have apparently refused to do so at the cost of worsening relations with Islamabad. .
The TTP has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on an army headquarters in 2009, attacks on military bases, and the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad.
In 2012 Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was attacked by TTP. He received bullet injuries and was admitted to Military Hospital (CMH) Peshawar and then taken to London for further treatment. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Yousafzai was a “western-minded girl”.
In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban stormed the Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing at least 150 people, including 131 students. The attack sent shockwaves around the world, and was widely condemned.”