New Delhi:Â The heinous murder of children in a school in Peshawar by Pakistan by the Tehrik-e-Taliban is not the first attack they have planned to cripple the functioning of the country.
Tehrik-e-Taliban, an offshoot of the Taliban in Afghanistan, has warned the Nawaz Sharif government that it will start eliminating children of politicians, including Sharif’s family, and army officers if the Pakistan government keeps its commitment to hang militants owing allegiance to the terror outfit.
The warning came in the form of a letter, written apparently by Mohammed Kharasani, believed to be a top commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah. It was received by Pakistan authorities on Friday evening.
Top sources said they were trying to verify if the letter was genuine. The letter justified the killing of young children saying the kids were committed to following in the footsteps of their parents.
While the letter doesn’t mention India, it is still of interest as one of those facing death sentence in Pakistan is Omar Sheikh, one of the terrorists released in the Kandahar hijacking and also the killer of Daniel Pearl.
The letter says that if any incarcerated terrorist is killed, TTP will take revenge by killing more young children.
“Let us make it clear to Pakistan establishment that if any of our associates is harmed, we will avenge ourselves by targeting your children. We would ensure that houses of army generals and political leaders become centers of mourning,” the letter said.
It accused the Pakistan government of falling prey to the designs of the army and ISI when what was required was a reform of these institutions.
“Why the human rights organizations, which are not aware of the reasons of the attack on Army Public School, silent on this decision of the infidel government. We, in light of Islamic teaching, consider the killing of the children of army personnel as justified as they are not opposing the anti-Islam role of their parents and are committed to follow the path of their parents. We are giving an open invitation of debate to religion leaders who are issuing decrees in favour of the government.”