Counterterrorism Blog

The NEFA Foundation has obtained two exclusive interviews with Maulvi Omar, the main spokesman for and a Shura Council member of the Pakistani Taliban movement, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). During the first interview, recorded in May 2008, Maulvi Omar emphasized the connection between both the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban movements and Al-Qaida, saying there is no difference between them, and that they are merely different words for the same ideology, working towards precisely the same goals. Similarly, he accuses former Pakistani President General Pervaiz Musharraf together with the U.S. and its international allies of having "crusader" and "infidel" designs against the entire Muslim world and, as such, are to be considered irreconcilable enemies of Islam.

During the second interview, obtained by NEFA in August 2008, Maulvi Omar declared the TTP to be in total control of Pakistan's tribal areas. Maulvi Omar further claimed that all other local mujahideen militias--including foreign Uzbek militants and tribal fighters—have all been either incorporated into the TTP, or expelled from the tribal areas. He denies reports that al-Zawahiri was wounded, or even ever at the location, of the recent U.S. airstrikes in Damadola. Omar even suggests a link between the TTP and several terrorist attacks in Western countries—including the July 7, 2005 suicide bombings in London, which he claimed were planned from Bajaur.

Both interviews are available on the NEFA Foundation website.