US shifted Hakimullah Mehsud, Taliban leaders to Afghanistan: General Beg

Lahore, Nov 16 (ANI): Former Pakistan Army Chief General (retired) Mirza Aslam Beg has alleged that the US has shifted the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud and the other Taliban leadership to Afghanistan.

General Beg said when the Pakistan Army started the operation in South Waziristan, a helicopter flew from the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan and shifted Hakimullah Mehsud and other militants to Afghanistan.

He said Hakimullah Mehsud and other militant commanders were present in Afghanistan, and alleged that the US was backing the militants fighting against the Pakistan Army in South Waziristan Agency.

General Beg said that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India wanted to detach the tribal areas from Pakistan but it did not succeed in its designs.

Commmenting on the current wave of terrorism in the country, especially in Peshawar, he said these incidents could be a reaction to the Waziristan operation but possibilities of the US and other foreign actors' involvement could not be ruled out.

Responding to a question about the operation Rah-e-Nijat, he said the people were talking about the difficulties in the operation and the possibility that the Army could be trapped in the area but due to an effective strategy, the military succeeded in clearing the area of the militants within a month and the remaining task would be completed soon.

The News quoted General Beg as saying that the US efforts could neither succeed in Afghanistan nor could get a safe exit from the Afghan soil until it corrected its attitude with the Pakistan Army.

He added the Pakistan Army and the Taliban could give a safe exit to the US from Afghanistan. (ANI)