In the run-up to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the United Nations-sanctioned terrorist group had agreed in their peace agreement with the United States that they would not allow al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group to operate from areas under their control. But just a few days after taking power in Kabul, the Taliban gave Al-Qaeda a clear slip of paper.
The Taliban said there was no evidence that al-Qaeda was involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. It was the attack that brought the US to Afghanistan in 2001 with the sole aim of “punishing” al-Qaeda for challenging the power of the superpower and killing about 3,000 people on American soil.
Since the Return of the Taliban to Afghanistan, their relationship with al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups was a critical question in the debates. Both al-Qaeda and the Taliban have their origins in the fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Both emerged as by-products of the mujahideen war in Afghanistan.
BAYAH: LIABILITY TO THE TALIBAN
After the withdrawal of the Soviets, the hierarchy was settled with Osama bin Laden, the founder-chief of al-Qaeda, who pledged allegiance to Mullah Mohammad Omar, the founder-chief of the Taliban in the 1990s, to “bayah”.
Al Qaeda leaders have renewed their promise to the Taliban leadership several times since then. This has provided al-Qaeda with protection for the Taliban, who have gained credibility with Islamist and jihadist forces around the world.
The high-ranking Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir cited examples in Indiatoday.in how the Taliban refused to extradite Osama bin Laden to the US before and after 9/11 despite two Pakistani leaders – Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf – trying to close the deal.
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HOW BAYAH TALIBAN GIVES THE UPPER HAND
“Bayah” is an Arabic word and means promise of loyalty to a Muslim leader. This was the basis for the unwavering loyalty or devotion of various jihadist groups to their superior equipment. This was also the reason for fighting between two groups fighting in the name of the same jihad.
This promise binds the two parties with the vow of ultimate obedience and protection. Al-Qaeda has declared its allegiance to the Taliban and has accepted its boss as the “commander of the believers”.
Breaking the promise of the “bayah” is a serious offense according to Sharia, Islamic law. When al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, refused to recognize the Taliban and regard it as its central command, al-Qaeda condemned its Iraqi allies.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi founded his own organization Islamic State (IS), originally called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The heads of the Islamic State have called themselves caliphs and want to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate. IS is fighting the Taliban, so the Islamic State and al-Qaeda remain arch rivals.
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WHY DOES IT WORK FOR PAKISTAN?
Pakistan is considered that largest support system of the Taliban. The Taliban government announced earlier this week has deep Pakistani influences, with the Haqqani network and Quetta-based Rahbari Shura dominating the transitional arrangement.
There is a greater concern for Pakistan, however, as al-Qaeda is not the only terrorist group that has promised “bayah” to the Taliban. the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)Often referred to as different from the Afghan Taliban, they have made a similar promise to the Taliban.
The struggle of the Pakistani Taliban is directed against the Pakistani government, which regularly carries out terrorist attacks on its security forces. Indeed, the Pakistani Taliban have intensified their attacks on the Pakistani armed forces since the Taliban took over Kabul in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Taliban have also warned journalists in Pakistan for using the word “terrorists” in news reports.
“We have seen titles such as ‘Terrorist’ and ‘Extremist’ used with our names, which shows the deliberate bias of the media. It is warned and instructed to mention TTP only as TTP and not with titles similar to ours Enemies, “they said in a statement that also announced that if the Pakistani media continues to use such references it will” attract more enemies to you “.
The Pakistani Taliban want to establish what the Taliban built in Afghanistan – an Islamic emirate in Pakistan.
That should worry Pakistan.
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