Statements By New Taliban Emir Maulana Fazlullah 2008-2013: ‘Talks Are Part Of The War’; ‘Our Jihad Will Continue’; ‘Our Jihad Is Against The U.S. And Its Allies’; ‘Passion for Jihad is Just Like an Addiction’
On November 7, 2013, Maulana Fazlullah was named the new emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), succeeding Hakimullah Mehsud who was killed in a U.S. drone strike a week ago on November 1. TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid, who announced the appointment of Maulana Fazlullah, declared that the new TTP emir has rejected any peace talks with the Pakistani government. Maulana Fazlullah has been the TTP emir for the Malakand region, which includes the Swat district of Pakistan. Shahid also announced the appointment of Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, until recently the TTP’s emir for Swabi district, as the new deputy emir of the TTP.