Taliban not fighting for Islam

Taliban not fighting for Islam

Pakistan's army chief has said the head of the Taliban in Pakistan "must be eliminated".

General Ashfaq Kayani said Baitullah Mehsud, who has his stronghold in the tribal district of South Waziristan, was "not fighting for Islam".

His comments come as a provincial governor said an offensive to target militants was imminent. Neither man said when such an assault might begin.

Baitullah Mehsud's group is blamed for a string of deadly attacks in Pakistan.

See a map of the region

Last week a prominent Muslim cleric who was outspoken in his opposition to the Taliban was killed in a suicide blast at his seminary in Lahore.

Gen Kayani said that militants targeted children, the elderly and clerics - and as such they were Pakistan's enemies.

"We are conducting this operation to bring misguided people back on the right path," he said.

"They are not fighting for Islam. Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and we know how to protect it," he added.

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Pakistan says offensive against Baitullah Mehsud imminent

June 15, 2009 2:14 AM ET
By Bill Roggio

The governor of the Northwest frontier Province said the military will launch a “comprehensive and decisive operation” as the military evaluates the request. Airstrikes launched in Bannu, Arakzai, and Bajaur.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/#ixzz0IWM6FhC4&D

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Gerald

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