PESHAWAR, April 21: Top commander of banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Waliur Rehman has praised Mehsud tribe for not siding with the government against Taliban in the South Waziristan Agency.

A statement attributed to commander Wali, which was released by a jihadi website on Wednesday, said that the government had tried to turn Mehsuds against the TTP, but could not succeed."Never in its history the Mehsud tribe faced misery and difficulties that the Pakistan army brought to them now, the statement said and added that the tribe had endured these hardships with courage and steadfastness.

“We congratulate the Mehsud tribe for rendering great sacrifices,” the statement quoted commander Wali as saying, adding that fellow tribesmen would always demonstrate such character in future.

He stated that the government had formed tribal militias against mujahideen, however these militias were unable to fulfill the objectives set by the government. He alleged that the government had demolished houses, mosques and schools. —Bureau Report