“We sacrificed our lives, left our homes and villages for the sake of Shariah and will do whatever we can to get Sharia implemented in the Malakand region and rest of Pakistan,” spokesman Sirajuddin Ahmad told Reuters, describing Fazlullah’s position.

Fazlullah was the Pakistani Taleban leader in Swat Valley before a 2009 army offensive forced him to flee. Also known as FM Mullah for his radio broadcasts, he regrouped in Afghanistan and established strongholds, and poses a threat to Pakistan once again, said army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas.