Pak Taliban video claims attacks on FIA, ISI offices
Peshawar, Jan 19 : The Tehrik -i-Taliban Pakistan has released a rare video containing statements from suicide bombers who have intentions to carry out strikes inside Pakistan.
The 40-minute tape shows men and youths, some apparently in their teens, addressing the camera about their intention to carry out suicide attacks to background music of Urdu militant anthems.
Militant commander Qari Hussain, who is based in South Waziristan, handed out the video to journalists in Peshawar, the Dawn reported.
Hussain is also known as "Ustad-i-Fidayeen" or teacher of suicide bombers. All those featured on the video spoke in Pashto.
The two biggest attacks claimed on the video were a double truck bombing last March against the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building in Lahore and bombing an office of the Inter-Services Intelligence in 2007.
At least 87 people, including government and security personnel, were killed in the attacks.
"I'm going to do this suicide bombing with Islamic sentiments," says someone who gave his name only as Masood and looked to be in his teens, to a backdrop of footage from the FIA attack.
"Suicide bombers are the atomic weapons of Muslims because Muslims do not have the latest weapons to fight enemies who are committing atrocities against Muslims in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq," Masood said.
Another voice demanded that the Pakistani government call an immediate halt to military operations in tribal areas, release arrested militants and lift a ban on an extremist group.
Pakistan has been wracked by violence since hundreds of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants sought refuge in the north-western region after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan toppled the Taliban regime in late 2001. (ANI)