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 The Arabic message, posted on the Afghan Taliban's website on
Thursday and translated by SITE intelligence group, addressed
fighters in Iraq and Syria whose announcement of a caliphate last
month poses a direct challenge to al Qaeda's dominance of global
Islamist militancy.
"It is worthy for a shurah (consultation) council to be formed from
the leaders of all the jihadi factions and the distinguished people
among the experts and the scholars in Sham (Syria) in order to solve
their conflicts," the message said.
"Muslims also should avoid extremism in religion, and judging others
without evidence, and distrusting one another," it said. "They
should avoid conflict and dispute, and not think their opinions are
better than others. Mercy and compassion should prevail."
On June 29, an al Qaeda offshoot previously known as the Islamic
State in Iraq and the Levant announced that it had renamed itself
Islamic State and proclaimed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as
"Caliph" - the head of the state.
The group had fallen out with al Qaeda over its expansion into
Syria, where it has carried out beheadings, crucifixions, and mass
executions.
In recent weeks, fighters from the Islamic State have overrun the
Iraqi city of Mosul and advanced towards the capital of Baghdad. In
Syria they have captured territory in the north and east, along the
border with Iraq.
Taliban spokesmen in both Pakistan and Afghanistan declined to
comment on al-Baghdadi's claim to be the global leader of all
Muslims. The Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are separate but allied.
Privately, some commanders said that they did not want to anger al
Qaeda, who they considered a long-time ally in the fight against
NATO troops in the region.
Some Taliban, including some of the younger commanders, were
enthusiastic about ISIS. In small mud homes in Pakistan's
Waziristan, men eagerly debated the new movement.
Pakistan's own insurgency is on the back foot after the military
launched an offensive against the Taliban's key stronghold last
month.
Most senior commanders are in hiding. Drone strikes have depleted
many of the Taliban's and al Qaeda's most experienced and
charismatic commanders.
"We are happy with the great efforts of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Dozens
of my colleagues from here are with them. Soon Sham and Iraq will be
Islamic states," said one militant in his thirties who commanded 60
men.
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"I like the way of fighting ... it is a very effective," he said,
wearing a vest with ammunition and hand grenades. "We need that here
in Pakistan. Many of our fighters have gone there," he added.
Younger fighters sitting on the muddy carpet around him nodded and
jostled to get closer. Many had video clips from ISIL burnt on to
discs that they played on a computer.
"We like the modern way of there fighting, it is really a holy war,
God send us there," said one.
But another Pakistani commander interviewed by Reuters said he
doubted that many fighters considered al-Baghdadi to be their global
leader.
"No militants see (al-Baghdadi) as their leader," he said, speaking
to Reuters on the phone. "But no one will talk against him."
In the northwestern region of Bannu, where hundreds of thousands of
Pakistanis displaced by the military's latest offensive have fled,
graffiti praising ISIL has appeared.
"Congratulations to the chief of Syrian organization Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi," said one message on a hospital wall in front of the
military's heavily guarded cantonment area.
Two previously unknown Pakistani militant groups have also sent out
messages pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, but their
strength and existence could not be verified.
(Houreld reported from Islamabad; Writing by Katharine Houreld;
Editing by Nick Macfie)
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