A Looming Civil War?

Taliban vow to ‘eliminate’ Pakistan’s top leadership

World Bank President Robert Zoellick (L) talks to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari as they gather to issue the joint statement on the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000) in Washington May 8, 2009. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

ISLAMABAD: Angered by Pakistan government’s decision to launch an all out war against them, the Taliban has vowed to “eliminate” country’s top leadership including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and their close family members.

“We thought that being a member of a religious family, Gilani will support our demand of implementing Sharia in the Malakand division but instead he has announced an all-out war against us, which has angered our commanders as well as fighters,” an unnamed Taliban commander told The News daily.

The militant commander, who spoke to the newspaper by phone, said after Gilani declared during an address to the nation on Thursday that the Taliban would be wiped out from the Swat Valley and adjoining areas, the militants had started planning to “eliminate the top leaders of the ruling alliance, including President, Prime Minister and their close family members and aides”.

The commander said Gilani’s hometown of Multan and tomb of former premier Benazir Bhutto might also be targeted by the militants.

“Besides, the personnel and installations of security forces, we have now also included civilian rulers in our hit list. We will definitely need some time to plan our actions but it is not impossible for us and we have all the means to implement our plan of attack anywhere in Pakistan,” he claimed.

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