PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shahidullah Shahid and five other group commanders have announced their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), and said they would be their lead fighters in Pakistan.
The IS or also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and headed by Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi, is a radical Islamist group that has seized territory across northern and western Iraq and eastern Syria.
“I am confirming my allegiance to Amirul Momineen Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi and would abide by all his decisions, whatever is the order, and whatsoever the circumstances, I shall be loyal to him and obey his orders,” Shaidullah Shahid said in a statement.
Shahidullah said that he along with TTP amir for Orakzai Agency Saeed Khan, TTP’s Kurram Agency chapter chief Daulat Khan, Fateh Gul Zaman, who heads TTP in Khyber Agency, TTP’s Peshawar amir Mufti Hassan and TTP’s Hangu chief Khalid Mansoor, is announcing allegiance to Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi Al Qureshi Al-Hussaini.
The TTP spokesman further said that the statement is on his and the five commanders’ behalf and has nothing to do with the group.
Shahidullah Shahid added that the TTP Chief Mullah Fazalullah has supported the IS but has not declared allegiance.
“I appeal to the Amirul Momineen to accept my allegiance,” Shahidullah Shahid stated, adding that he has already extended his allegiance three times to Al-Baghdadi.
