Senior Pakistani Taliban leaders join IS

Senior Pakistani Taliban leaders in a tribal region on Thursday declared allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in another serious setback for the banned outfit at a time when it is under attack in its former strongholds.

The chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in Bajaur tribal region, Maulana Abu Bakar and his deputy Qari Zahid, parted ways with the Taliban and joined the IS, Xinhua news agency reported citing IS spokesman for the region Shahidullah Shahid.

Shahid also said all members of the Taliban council in Bajaur, commanders, scholars and judges of the Islamic court have recognised Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the IS, as their leader.

Abu Bakar, one of the influential Taliban leaders, was appointed the TTP Bajaur chief by Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2013.

"The TTP Bajaur leaders have declared allegiance to Hafiz Saeed Khan, leader of the Islamic State for Khorasan region," Shahid told the media over phone. The militant groups consider Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the Khorasan region.

Hafiz Saeed Khan, the TTP chief for Orakzai agency, was the most influential in the TTP ranks, who had joined the IS in October last year along with five senior leaders, including Shahidullah Shahid.

TTP spokesman, Mohammad Khorasani, said on Monday that the group's Bajaur chief and his deputy have resigned. He had, however, avoided giving reasons for their resignation.

The Taliban have not commented on the new development.

More TTP leaders joining the IS reflect the group faces serious challenges at a time when they have lost grounds in North Waziristan and Tirah Valley in Khyber agencies in the wake of a military offensive.

The situation would also emerge as a new phenomenon in Pakistan and also in neighbouring Afghanistan as reports suggest Taliban white flags have been replaced with the IS's black flags in some parts.