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Swat Taliban chief 'has escaped' Taliban leader 'flees Pakistan'
(about 2 hours later)
The head of the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat valley says he has escaped the army and is now in Afghanistan. One of the most wanted Taliban leaders in Pakistan has escaped to Afghanistan and is planning new attacks on Pakistani forces, he has told the BBC.
Maulana Fazlullah, who was said to be critically wounded by top Pakistani officials in July, was speaking exclusively to the BBC by telephone. Maulana Fazlullah founded the Swat Taliban to enforce a hardline version of Islamic law.
The cleric founded the Taliban in Swat which sought to enforce a hardline version of Sharia law in the region. The government at first accepted his demands, but later accused the militants of reneging on a peace deal and sent troops into the valley.
Pakistan's government accepted his demands, but later sent in troops after the militants reneged on a peace deal. Maulana Fazlullah was said by officials to have been wounded or killed in July.
ThreatsThreats
"I have reached Afghanistan safely," Maulana Fazlullah told BBC Urdu. "I have reached Afghanistan safely," Maulana Fazlullah told the BBC's Urdu service.
"We are soon going to launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat.""We are soon going to launch full-fledged punitive raids against the army in Swat."
He went on to say that those claiming success for the Swat operation should try and prevent drone attacks and the US security firm Blackwater from operating in Pakistan. The voice was recognisably Maulana Fazlullah's - he has a very distinct way of pronouncing words.
"The authorities should beware, especially Mian Iftikhar Hussain, whose fate will be like that of Najibullah," he warned. I have spoken to him on several occasions and met him twice.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain is the information minister in the government of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. Maulana was calling from an Afghan mobile number and sounded in good spirits when he called on Monday.
Dr Najibullah was Afghan president before the Taliban hanged him in 1996 when they took Kabul. He said that those claiming success for the Swat operation should try to prevent drone attacks and the US security firm Blackwater from operating in Pakistan.
Talking about President Barack Obama's new Afghan policy, Maulana Fazlullah said there was no need for the US to send in more troops. He issued a warning to the North West Frontier Province's information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.
"The authorities should beware, especially Mian Iftikhar Hussain, whose fate will be like that of Najibullah," he warned, referring to Dr Najibullah who was Afghan president before the Taliban hanged him in 1996 when they took Kabul.
Talking about US President Barack Obama's Afghan policy, Maulana Fazlullah said there was no need for the US to send in more troops.
"Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani soldiers are already involved in furthering the US agenda in the region," he said."Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani soldiers are already involved in furthering the US agenda in the region," he said.
'Boost for militants''Boost for militants'
Maulana Fazlullah has been incommunicado for several months.Maulana Fazlullah has been incommunicado for several months.
During this time a number of reports had circulated about his death and/or capture by the military. During this time a number of reports had circulated about his death or capture by the military.
These had gained credence after Pakistani authorities said he was mortally wounded in the army operation. These had gained credence after Pakistani authorities said he was fatally wounded in the army operation.
The Taliban denied reports that he had been injured or was close to death.The Taliban denied reports that he had been injured or was close to death.
News that he is alive and well is likely to be a big boost for the Taliban in Pakistan. His return is likely to be a morale booster for the increasingly beleaguered Taliban in Pakistan.
Despite Maulana Fazlullah's claims, the Taliban are effectively destroyed in Swat. But it appears unlikely that his militants will be able to take the fight to the army, so soon after being soundly defeated in Swat.
They are also on the run in their main stronghold in South Waziristan where the Pakistani military recently launched a major offensive. The Taliban are also on the run in their main stronghold in South Waziristan, where the Pakistani military recently launched a major offensive.