<p>Pakistani Taliban today suffered a major setback after a powerful faction split from it citing the umbrella organisation's involvement in criminal activities and bombing of public places, complicating the already-fragile peace dialogue with the government.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 'Khan Sajna' group has parted ways from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) led by Maulana Fazlullah due to its involvement in criminal activities and policy of bombing public places, Azam Tariq, former TTP spokesman and a member of its powerful shura (council), said.<br /><br />"We announce our defection from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, we have chosen our Khalid Mehsud as the new leader for South Waziristan," Tariq said.<br /><br />"The TTP leadership has fallen into the hands of a bunch of conspirators, the umbrella organisation is involved in criminal activities like robbery and extortion," he said in a statement.<br /><br />"Khalid Mehsud" known as "Khan Said Sajna" was a contender for the TTP's leadership after its former chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike last year.<br /><br />The break-away faction belongs to the Mehsud tribe, considered to be one of the most important and powerful of the various groups that comprise the TTP.<br /><br />Tariq said there were differences within the rebels over the issue of peace talks with the government, which are currently stalled. He said the TTP needs reforms.<br /><br />The split has come at time when the Taliban are facing aerial strikes by the government forces and their leader Fazlullah, hiding in Afghanistan, is trying to assert his authority.<br /><br />He had removed Sajna as chief of South Waziristan over fighting with another group led by Shehyar Mehsud but Sajna refused to relinquish his position.<br /><br />More than 50 rebels were killed due to fighting between Sajna and Shehyar groups in the previous weeks.<br /><br />It is not know whether intelligence agencies had a hand in the split.<br /><br />Pakistani air force jets last week pounded Taliban targets in the country's restive tribal region near the Afghan border.<br /><br />The death toll in the air strikes and targeted on ground offensives has crossed 80, with over 75 militants and four security personnel among those killed.</p>
<p>Pakistani Taliban today suffered a major setback after a powerful faction split from it citing the umbrella organisation's involvement in criminal activities and bombing of public places, complicating the already-fragile peace dialogue with the government.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 'Khan Sajna' group has parted ways from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) led by Maulana Fazlullah due to its involvement in criminal activities and policy of bombing public places, Azam Tariq, former TTP spokesman and a member of its powerful shura (council), said.<br /><br />"We announce our defection from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, we have chosen our Khalid Mehsud as the new leader for South Waziristan," Tariq said.<br /><br />"The TTP leadership has fallen into the hands of a bunch of conspirators, the umbrella organisation is involved in criminal activities like robbery and extortion," he said in a statement.<br /><br />"Khalid Mehsud" known as "Khan Said Sajna" was a contender for the TTP's leadership after its former chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike last year.<br /><br />The break-away faction belongs to the Mehsud tribe, considered to be one of the most important and powerful of the various groups that comprise the TTP.<br /><br />Tariq said there were differences within the rebels over the issue of peace talks with the government, which are currently stalled. He said the TTP needs reforms.<br /><br />The split has come at time when the Taliban are facing aerial strikes by the government forces and their leader Fazlullah, hiding in Afghanistan, is trying to assert his authority.<br /><br />He had removed Sajna as chief of South Waziristan over fighting with another group led by Shehyar Mehsud but Sajna refused to relinquish his position.<br /><br />More than 50 rebels were killed due to fighting between Sajna and Shehyar groups in the previous weeks.<br /><br />It is not know whether intelligence agencies had a hand in the split.<br /><br />Pakistani air force jets last week pounded Taliban targets in the country's restive tribal region near the Afghan border.<br /><br />The death toll in the air strikes and targeted on ground offensives has crossed 80, with over 75 militants and four security personnel among those killed.</p>