The Pakistan Taliban has brought two splinter groups back into its fold, it announced in a statement, days after the army said nationwide operations against armed groups had brought "hard-earned success".
The Pakistan Taliban, fighting to overthrow the government, is an umbrella of Sunni armed groups called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has broken into many divisions.
The TTP, designated a "terrorist" group by the United States, has been in disarray in recent years, especially after several of its top leaders were killed by US drone attacks on both sides of the border, forcing its members into shelter in Afghanistan, or fleeing to urban Pakistan.
"Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan welcomes them," the TTP statement said of the two splinter groups, adding that it would like all groups to unite.
The reunion with Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and Hizb-ul-Ahrar (HuA) appears significant in view of the rise in attacks against security forces, most claimed by the TTP, including some suicide bombings.
Pakistani army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar said last week, however, the military's operations against armed groups had been very successful.
SOURCE: REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
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