Did Afghan Taliban help release of Shahbaz Taseer
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QUETTA: Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain Governor Punjab Salman Taseer appeared in Khuchlak near Quetta on the scene after 237 weeks of captivity in the hands of notorious Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group. Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped for Ransom from Lahore on August 26, 2011.
As per the sources Shahbaz Taseer was taken to South Waziristan Agency where he was kept alive for sake of ransom. However operation Zarb-e-Azb started by the Pakistan Army with a strength of 1,82,000 soldiers flushed out all terrorists from the country. TTP, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan IMU, Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi LeJ and other small associated groups hideouts were completely eliminated.
Those who managed to escape the onslaught found refugee in neighbouring Afghanistan eastern provinces. Captors of Shahbaz Taseer also fled away to Afghanistan along with him and reportedly Shahbaz Taseer was kept in Zabul region before his release.
These anti Pakistan elements were hosted there by a commander of splinter Afghan Taliban group Mullah Dadullah who was known to be anti Pakistan and against the Afghan Taliban main leadership of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. Terrorist from Afghanistan had demanded a ransom of at least 1 billion Rupees (10 million US $) for release of Shahbaz Taseer. Lately release of Mumbai Qadri, an elite police guard of Governor House who killed his father Salman Taseer was also added to the wish list of the terrorists.
Rahim Ullah Yousafzai, an expert on Af-Pak affairs and other reliable sources within Pakistan and Afghanistan revealed the inside account of the release of Shahbaz Taseer. As per sources the internal Afghan civil war like scenario helped Shahbaz Taseer reach back home. As per sources Islamic State (ISIS) Khorasan chapter has established it's small presence in Afghanistan especially in Eastern and Southern mountain regions of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan.
The Splinter TTP, LeJ, IMU along with the host splinter Afghan Taliban elements led by Mullah Dadullah also cooperated and coordinated with ISIS to strengthen each other against common enemy Pakistan and Afghan Taliban. Intelligence Sources have also found irrefutable evidences of provision of logistic and financial support by Indian Intelligence Agency RAW with the support of rogue serving and retired officials of Afghan premier Intelligence Agency NDS.
Media reports have also surfaced both in Pakistan and Afghanistan lately about the terrorist funding and support in Pakistan and Afghanistan by the Indian Intelligence Agency RAW. The amalgam of splinter groups in Afghanistan threatened Afghan Taliban hegemony who escalated their two prong campaign against both State elements and as well as Non State Actors. Afghan Taliban one such operation conducted in Zabul region against ISIS and other splinter groups resulted in release of Shahbaz Taseer who was kept there by the terrorists.
Afghan Taliban offensive killed the splinter group commander Mullah Dadullah along with his close relatives and commanders. Shahbaz Taseer was taken away by the Afghan Taliban and subsequently one of the Afghan Taliban Commander managed to send him to Pakistan and was set free in Khuchlak near Quetta. Shahbaz Taseer was taken to Quetta from where he flew to Lahore on a private jet.