Pakistani Taliban vow support for ISIS fighters

The Pakistani Taliban has declared its support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) radical group and ordered its fighters across the region to help the Middle Eastern extremists, Reuters news agency reported Sunday.

“Oh our brothers, we are proud of you in your victories. We are with you in your happiness and your sorrow,” Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement that was issued to mark the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Adha.

“In these troubled days, we call for your patience and stability, especially now that all your enemies are united against you. Please put all your rivalries behind you,” Shahid said.

“All Muslims in the world have great expectations of you ... We are with you, we will provide you with Mujahideen (fighters) and with every possible support,” he said.

The statement, which was released in Urdu, Pashto and Arabic, was released after ISIS fighters beheaded British aid worker Alan Henning.

Recently, ISIS activists have been spotted in the Pakistani city of Peshawar distributing pamphlets praising the group.

ISIS flags have also been seen at street rallies in Indian-administered Kashmir.

ISIS, which controls swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into South Asia, which has traditionally been dominated by local Taliban insurgencies against both the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments.

(With Reuters)