Tehreek-e-Taliban new face of al Qaeda: Pak

Islamabad, Sep 2: The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) was a new face of al-Qaeda and that the former was working hand-in-glove with the latter providing them with shelter and acting as their mouthpiece, the Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Interior Affairs, has said.

He added that both the terror organizations were connected and that there was a similarity in their operations. There was a great need to strike against them in Bajaur, he further said. 'We have no doubt in our minds now that al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-e-Taliban are one and the same thing. The nexus between the TTP and al-Qaeda is there and their activities are continuing. We are left with no option except to strike against them in Bajaur. When we tried to establish one post they fired at and killed our people,' The News quoted Rehman Malik as saying while talking to foreign media persons.

He said the government had suspended operations against the militants and extremists but only for the holy month of Ramazan, mainly to facilitate the displaced people from these areas to go back to their homes.

"But, that does not mean that if somebody fires from that side we will not react. If there is one fire we will fire back nine times and we will make sure that it continues. If we noticed any training activity, any re-grouping, any firing at any police officer, Army personnel or a civilian, we will react," Malik warned.

ANI