HELMAND/QUETTA: Afghan Taliban Commander Abdul Manan, known as Mulla Toor Jan, has denied any link between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani militants, saying that the Afghan Taliban were not in Pakistan but were fighting in Afghanistan against the occupied troops.
Talking to a TV channel, commander Abdul Manan said the Afghan Taliban were fighting against the US and Nato troops as they occupied Afghanistan through force and the Taliban would drive them out of their land. Responding to a question regarding suicide attacks in Pakistan, he said: “It is un-Islamic and wrong to target innocent people in blasts.” He also expressed his unawareness about the objectives of the Pakistani Taliban.
Asked about the Taliban Shura in Quetta, he said the Taliban had control of over 80 per cent of Afghanistan and it would not be wise for the Taliban to live in Pakistan, saying only one per cent or less Taliban visit Pakistan to meet their relatives.
Answering another question, he categorically rejected the influence of al-Qaeda on the Taliban, saying the Taliban wanted Islamic system in the country according to the wishes of the people. Talking on coordination among the Taliban, he said advisers of the Taliban existed all over the country and they took decisions after consultation and their decisions had to be followed by the Taliban.About the coalition troops’ casualties in Helmand, he said the enemy lost 10,000 to 15,000 men.
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