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Ex-TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid (c) speaks in an interview at an undisclosed location. —AP Photo/File
ISLAMABAD: An online video was released on Saturday apparently showing former militants of the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.
The video shows former TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid along with dozens of other militants in a wooded area.
Shahid already announced his support for the Islamic State group in an audio message in October.
Read also: Six top TTP commanders announce allegiance to Islamic State's Baghdadi
He was later replaced by the TTP. Other militant leaders who identify themselves as from Afghanistan and Pakistan also pledge their support to the Islamic State group.
The SITE Intelligence Group, a US-based terrorism monitor, said the video was released by the Islamic State group on Twitter and jihadi forums.
The video is sure to raise concerns about whether the Islamic State group has found support in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a region already awash with dozens of militant groups.
At the end of the video, the militants killed a man they claim to be a Pakistani soldier.
Taliban militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan owe their allegiance to Mullah Omar, a cleric who has led the Taliban since the 1990s and hasn't been publicly heard from for years.
The area where the video was shot was not identified but Taliban militants are known to operate in the rugged mountainous regions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The militants frequently target Pakistani troops who have been carrying out missions in the country's northwest.
There was no immediate comment from the military or government. The Islamic State group controls about a third of both Syria and Iraq.
Comments (13) Closed
Opportunists looking for more opportunities to loot and kill. Can anybody locate and eliminate them?
Good, they've given up all hope of corrupting Pakistan and Afghanistan from the inside. This news will hit our apologists pretty hard.
Good. Go and fight in Syria and Iraq and leave us alone so that we can progress and have properity.
No great surprise...the ideology of the Taliban is almost identical to that do ISIS...both are radical terrorist organizations who do not hesitate to kill those who disagree with their twisted ideas...
Time to educate and mobilise people of Pakistan to root out this evil. Taliban is anti muslim and so is ISIS. These people serve someone's agenda and it is not for the benefit of muslims.
Just a few days back.. our great Ch Nisar said in a conference "there is no issue of ISIS in Pakistan".. LOL
This doesnt mean much. They are confused and directionless.
Their sponsors are playing with fire by supporting them, they are hired guns they can and will turn guns against anyone who paid them more! lower operatives are brainwashed without knowing the reality of their mercenary leaders!
What I cannot understand is that these very militants are killing there own muslim people!! How does that work?
Shahidullah always contacts the press through cell phone, how come his his location is not determined as yes.
The government is waiting for the list of good terrorists from the army to see if these guys are in there.
Well! here we go again.How come the government can not locate these lunatics hide outs. Of course, they are not Muslims. Any one can show me where it is mentioned to kill another Muslim. Islam is a religion of peace, live in harmony and freedom of speech, education for men and women plus welcoming people of other religions to come dine with us and know about us. I request to Pakistani Army to cut their roots before their roots start spreading through out the country.
Their support for ISIS group shows that they are getting weak @ home and supporting ISIS means ,they can expect help from ISIS , in the future, if they need (because they showed support). They are just try to show support to famous group og the present.