Pakistan's Taliban movement Maulvi Faqir Mohammad as Taliban number 2

Maulvi Faqir Mohammad is the Taliban's commander in Bajaur, one of Pakistan s seven districts in the tribal belt on the Afghan border and one that has seen a recent lull in fighting between the Taliban and Pakistani soldiers. He was sacked on Sunday at a meeting presided over by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud at a secret location in Pakistan s northwestern tribal belt, spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone. "A shura (council) meeting was held on Sunday and it decided to remove Maulvi Faqir Mohammad from the position of deputy chief of TTP," he said, adding that Mohammad would continue to serve the group as an ordinary member. Ehsan gave no reason for the removal. Neither was a successor announced. A source close to the Taliban told AFP on condition of anonymity that the Bajaur commander fell out of favour with Mehsud over his alleged support for peace talks with the Pakistani government. Mohammad also had sympathies with Mehsud s biggest rival within the TTP, Wali-ur Rehman, the source added. The only TTP commander who refused to comply was Mehsud, an Afghan Taliban member recently told AFP. Young and impetuous, the TTP leader has reputedly said there will be no end to attacks until Washington stops drone strikes.