The head of the Pakistani Taliban is making a last-ditch bid to stamp his authority on the increasingly divided insurgency by ordering a top commander sacked, Taliban sources said Saturday.
Taliban head Fazlullah ordered the sacking of Khan “Sajna” Said on Friday after weeks of bloody infighting in the powerful Mehsud tribe, they said. Scores of men have been killed.
The risk for Fazlullah is that Said might ignore him and battle on. Said is trying to wrest control of the Mehsud tribe
“It’s a test case for Maulana Fazlullah and his shura,” a Taliban commander said, referring to the movement’s leadership council.
“It will determine their future.”
