Qari Zainuddin Mehsud - A Challenger to Baithullah Mehsud

Baithullah Mehsud came to power when his predecessor Abdullah Mehsud was killed in a firefight with Pakistani security agencies. The tip off on the location of Abdullah Mehsud is said to have come from an unknown source. Now there is a controversy that the source for the information was Baithullah Mehsud who wanted to take over the Mehsud Tribes and other factions fighting against the government intervention in FATA. Abdullah Mehsud was a relatively peaceful person since he believed in Jihad in Afghanistan against the foreign forces led by USA. He was not interested in fighting Pakistan army and its people. The other theory says that the tip off came from CIA who wanted Baitullah Mehsud to lead the tribals against Pakistani army and create anarchy in Pakistan and resulting declare Pakistan a country not suitable to hold its nuclear weapons. It is also worth mentioning here that the second point is also supported by another argument that the Americans killed Naik Muhammad, who signed  a peace deal with Pakistan, and only wanted the Tribals to fight the Americans and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Since the take over of Baithullah Mehsud, the image of Talibans have suffered a major blow as all Pakistani’s consider them as a pure group of terrorists hell bent on destroying Pakistan. Ironically, American drones have been successful in killing the most elusive members of Al-Qaeda and Afghan Talibans but failed to kill Baithullah Mehsud. Pakistan intelligence agencies provided Americans with concrete information on the location of Baithullah Mehsud but somehow the CIA led drones never tried to attack Baitullah Mehsud. On the other hand, Baithullah Mehsud is using sophisticated communication system that can not be decrypted by our elite ISI. It is generally believed in intelligence circles that the same communication system is active and might be providing him with information about the Pakistani army movements and possible attacks on his life from across the border in Afghanistan. It is a still not known who is the person on the otherside providing such accurate information to Baithullah Mehsud.

It is in this background that a local leader Qari Zainuddin has come out to challenge Baithullah Mehsud authority in the South Waziristan area. Qari Zainuddin worked closely with Abdullah Mehsud and is possible aware of the circumstances in which he was killed. He has clearly blamed Baithullah Mehsud for the death of Abdullah Mehsud and he consider Baithullah Mehsud as the source of all evils that are affecting both the tribal areas in Pakistan and the  Afghan Jihad effort.

Qari Zainuddin is said to have support of all the people of Mehsud tribe who hates Baitullah Mehsud but fear him to voice their opposition. Now that the army operation is imminent, a division between the Mehsuds are becoming visible. The tribal people of South Waziristan will have to take sides since remaining neutral will be a difficult option. The government has already started targeting Mehsud tribes under collective punishment regulation as per FCR rules. On the other hand, Qari Zainuddin has started targetting the members of Baitullah Mehsud group in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan areas and have significantly reduced his influence in the past one week.

Turkistan Khan, another tribal leader, is said to have joined Qari Zainuddin faction since he has long parted ways with Baitullah Mehsud over his treatment of prisoners. Turkistan Khan has been a former member of South Waziristan Scouts, a paramilitary wing of Paksitan Frontier Corps. Turkistan Khan has a strong relationship with the FC Soldiers since he was part of it himself.  Once a former friend of Baitullah Mehsud, he has now become a sworn enemy. Baitullah Mehsud has killed 73 relatives of Turkistan Khan in targeted killings. Turkistan Khan is now an ally of Qari Zainuddin and together they form a formidable force to handle. Pakistan army has given them limited freedom to operate against Baitullah Mehsud and to weaken him for the upcoming military offensive. On the other hand, an American drone attack on the two enemies of US is expected since CIA and RAW don’t want to lose their ally in Pakistan who has single handedly done much more harm then the 50 year efforts by RAW agents.

It will be interesting to see how the tribals feuds, complex inteligence games and the Pakistan military operation change the situation in the coming weeks in the South Waziristan area.

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