Reports from Pakistan say al-Qaida and Afghan Taliban leaders have asked Pakistani militants to stop targeting Pakistani security forces and instead concentrate on battling U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.
The reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that following the intervention of Afghan Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omar, the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban formed a joint five-member committee with other Pakistani militant groups.
A pamphlet issued in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region Sunday called on Pakistani militant groups to unite and “avoid unwarranted killings and kidnappings for ransom.” The pamphlet said those found guilty would be subject to punishment under Islamic law.
According to the reports, the five groups that pledged to unite and work with the Afghan Taliban include the powerful Haqqani network, the Maulvi Nazeer group, the Hakimullah Mehsud group, and the Maulana Waliur Rahman group — all operating from South Waziristan — as well as the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group based in North Waziristan.