KHAR, July 28: Serious differences have cropped up among the local Taliban in the Bajaur tribal region after three influential commanders announced separation from the Tehrik-i-Taliban, Bajaur.

A senior leader of the local Taliban, Masood Khan, told journalists by phone on Monday that he along with the head of the local wing of ‘prevention of vice and promotion of virtues’, Maulana Mohammad Munir, Maulana Abdul Hamid and Dr Abdul Wahab had parted ways with the Taliban movement and would set up their own group.

“There was considerable disagreement and differences on certain issues that is why we decided to separate from the main group,” he said.

He said Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud had set up a committee to resolve the differences, but it failed to address their grievances.

He said his group had presented four demands, but the committee did not resolve their complaints. “From today we have nothing to do with the Tehrik-i-Taliban and we will set up our own group very soon,” he said.

He said they had asked the local Taliban to take steps to stop kidnapping for ransom, change the administration every six months, set up a committee of ulema to review decisions of Sharia courts and make binding the Shura’s decisions on the Taliban.

“We accept Mullah Mohammad Omar of Afghanistan as our head and our mission is to wage a war against the US and evict it from the region,” he added.

“The local Taliban have formed jirgas to win back our support, but we stand by the decision of forming our own group. We are no more related to the TTP,” said Mr Masood, one of the founder members of the defunct Tehrik Nafaz-i-Sharia-i- Muhammadi in Bajaur.