ISLAMABAD: Maulana Abdul Aziz, a part of the Taliban three-member team for negotiations with the government committee and Lal Masjid cleric, said that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has at least 400 to 500 female suicide bombers in Waziristan and other tribal areas.
“You should know that at the moment they have at least 400 to 500 female suicide bombers in Waziristan and other tribal areas,” Maulana Aziz said in an interview with Bloomberg News, referring to the TTP.
“The government should realise the situation and their demands,” the Lal Masjid cleric said.
Maulana Aziz said the US military presence in Afghanistan is a very small factor in the fight as the Taliban is most interested in implementing Sharia.
“They (Taliban) are fighting for the implementation of Sharia,” Maulana Aziz said. “It’s the law of nature that when people don’t get their rights, they pick up arms.”
When asked whether the Taliban wanted an agreement with the government soon to avoid a military operation, Maulana Aziz said that “The Taliban are in no hurry.” “They say they are not worried about it. They have been in a state of war for the past 10 years.”
“If the military has weapons and air power, they (Taliban) have suicide bombers,” Maulana Aziz said. “You cannot match them. Suicide bombers even destroyed the power of America in Afghanistan.”
On Friday, Maulana Aziz had declared at a press conference that he would no longer take part in negotiations between the two sides until the condition of imposing Islamic laws was made part of the dialogue.
However, a day after Maulana Yousuf Shah, who acts as contact person for the Taliban, said that it was likely that Maulana Abdul Aziz would continue the work with the TTP committee.
