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{{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2020}}
'''[[Maulvi]] Faqir Mohammed''' ([[Pashto language|Pashto]]/[[Urdu]]: {{nq|فقیر محمد}}; {{circa}} 1970) is an [[Islamist]] militant and, until March 2012, a deputy leader of the Pakistani [[Taliban]] umbrella group [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan]].<ref name=nasir2006/><ref name=abbash/><ref name=nbcnews>{{cite news
|last = Grisanti
|first = Carol
|title = Face-to-face with a Taliban commander
|work = NBC News
|date = 6 May 2008
|url = http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/06/984755.aspx
|access-date = 13 February 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080628104143/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/06/984755.aspx
|archive-date = 28 June 2008
}}</ref><ref name="newsInt20120305"/><ref name="bbc20120305"/> He was reported as killed on 5 March 2010 during a helicopter gunship attack on militants by the Pakistani military although he denied the reports as false.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-malik-confirms-death-of-top-commanders-ss-04 |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 March 2010 |archive-date=8 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308010439/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-malik-confirms-death-of-top-commanders-ss-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="cnn.com">[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/08/pakistan.militants/?hpt=T2 Pakistani Taliban leader disputes claims of deaths], CNN, 8 March 2010</ref> In July 2011, he resurfaced on the air broadcasting radio shows out of Afghanistan.<ref>https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gtrIG8CZeHRTQHWKKbXQ1RcsUcwQ?docId=4dfa69bfd22c4f1cb3e438fe2daefba4 {{dead link|date=October 2012}}</ref>
He was captured in Afghanistan on 17 February 2013, and released by the Afghan Taliban in 2021.

==Early life and education==
Mohammed was born in 1970 in Sewai, a village in [[Bajaur District]]’s [[Mamund Subdivision]], into a [[Pashtuns|Pashtun]] family of the [[Mamund]] clan. Belonging to a religious family, he studied in a local [[madrasa]] under [[Maulana]] Abdus Salam, a [[Deobandi]] cleric under whom he achieved the [[Dars-i Nizami]] graduation in the 1990s, then studied the [[Quran]] in the Darul-Uloom [[Panjpir]] in the [[Swabi District]], known to promote a local form of [[Wahhabism]]. In terms of political activities he was initially a local leader of the [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan]] before joining [[Sufi Muhammad]]’s [[Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi]] (TNSM) in 1993 or 1994. While in [[Afghanistan]] he also fought the Soviets in the 1980s and for the [[Taliban]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite book|first=|title=Talibanistan: Negociating the Borders Between Terror, Politics, and Religion|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2013|editor-last=Bergen|editor-first=Peter|pages=321|chapter=The Taliban in Bajaur|editor-last2=Tiedemann|editor-first2=Katherine}}</ref>

He has one wife in a tribal society where [[polygamy]] is not uncommon.<ref name="nasir2006" />

Mohammed was a staunch activist of TNSM, to the extent that he has been considered Sufi Mohammad’s confidant and right hand man. He and his two sons were captured in [[Afghanistan]] after the fall of the [[Taliban]] in late 2001, and were held in [[Dera Ismail Khan]] jail in southern Pakistan. However, he successfully fled back to Pakistan, where his knowledge of the territory has been useful to Al-Qaeda operatives.<ref name=nasir2006/>

==Relationship with al-Qaeda==
His house was raided by Pakistani security agencies hunting a "[[High-value target|high-value]]" al-Qaeda target in 2005.<ref name=abbash/> Public sympathy raised him into a position of leadership in the Bajaur Agency. His house was raided again on 22 January 2006, and three of his relatives were arrested. He is a wanted man due to suspected contacts with Taliban and [[Al-Qaeda]] militants.<ref name=nasir2006/> Faqir has publicly stated that he has close ties to [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]].
<blockquote>For his part, Faqir Mohammed strongly denies any presence of al-Qaeda or Taliban leadership in the area and says, "According to Pashtun tradition we will definitely exact revenge on America. Ayman al-Zawahiri never came here but if he wanted to come, we will welcome him, and it will be a great pleasure for us to be his host" (''Daily Jang'', 23 January 2006). President [[Pervez Musharraf]], however, is insistent that "al-Qaeda fighters were probably killed in a suspected CIA air strike that killed 18 civilians in Bajaur Agency earlier this month...now that we have started investigating the reality on the ground, yes we have found that there are foreigners there, that is for sure." (''The Nation'', 25 January 2006).<ref name=nasir2006>{{cite journal|url=http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369893 |title=Al-Zawahiri's Pakistani Ally: Profile of Maulana Faqir Mohammed |journal=Terrorism Monitor |first=Sohail Abdul |last=Nasir |date=9 February 2006 |volume=4 |issue=3 |publisher=[[The Jamestown Foundation]] |access-date=13 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916134819/http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369893 |archive-date=September 16, 2008 }}</ref></blockquote>

He commented on the [[Chenagai airstrike]] which occurred in October 2006.{{Clarify|date=February 2009}}

==Commander Faqir==
Though not a tribal chief or elder, he has a security team and 15-20 followers. Faqir and his entourage travel in the Bajaur region with impunity.<ref name=nasir2006/>

However, his house was burnt down by tribal elders as is custom. He was warned in January 2006 that failure to surrender to authorities would result in his house being burnt down again.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}}

He is third in command of the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan]] (TTP), formed in December 2007 under the leadership of [[Baitullah Mehsud]] and prefers the title Commander Faqir.<ref name=abbash>Abbas, Hassan. "[http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profile_of_tehrikitaliban_pakistan.html A Profile of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan]". ''[[CTC Sentinel]]'' 1 (2): 1–4. January 2008,</ref><ref name=nbcnews/>

==2009 Ceasefire==
On 23 February 2009 Faqir Mohammed declared in a 30-minute radio broadcast that his followers would begin a unilateral ceasefire.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Pakistan Taleban in Bajaur truce
| work = BBC News
| date = 2009-02-23
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7906592.stm
| access-date = 2009-02-24}}</ref> The speech came only a few hours after the Pakistani military announced a halt to operations in the nearby [[Swat valley]], where it had been battling the Swati division of the TTP under the leadership of [[Maulana Fazlullah]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = King
| first = Laura
| title = Confusion hangs over Pakistan's pact with Taliban
| work = Los Angeles Times
| date =14 February 2009
| url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-swat24-2009feb24,0,4127783.story
| access-date =24 February 2009}}</ref>

==TTP leadership changes==
After Baituallah Mehsud's reported death in August 2009, Maulana Faqir Mohammed announced to the BBC that he would assume temporary leadership of the TTP and that [[Muslim Khan]] would serve as primary spokesperson. He also maintained that Baitullah had not been killed but rather was in ill health. Faqir further elaborated that decisions over leadership of the umbrella group would only be made in consultation and consensus with other TTP leaders. "The congregation of Taliban leaders has 32 members and no important decision can be taken without their consultation," he told the BBC.<ref name=bbc20090819>{{cite news
| title = Pakistan Taliban spokesman named
| work = BBC News
| date = 2009-08-19
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8208750.stm
| access-date = 2009-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|title = Maulvi Faqeer acting Tehrik-i-Taliban chief: report
|publisher = Dawn
|date = 2009-08-19
|url = http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-maulvi-faqeer-is-acting-tehrik-i-taliban-chief-qs-11
|access-date = 2009-08-19
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821132544/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-maulvi-faqeer-is-acting-tehrik-i-taliban-chief-qs-11
|archive-date = 2009-08-21
}}</ref> He reported to the [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] that both [[Hakimullah Mehsud]] and [[Wali-ur-Rehman]] had approved his appointment as temporary leader of the militant group.<ref>{{cite news
|title = Faqir claims TTP leadership, Muslim Khan replaces Omer
|publisher = Daily Times
|date = 2009-08-20
|url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\story_20-8-2009_pg7_4
|access-date = 2009-08-20
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120112122855/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C10%5C02%5Cstory_2-10-2009_pg7_8
|archive-date = 12 January 2012
}}</ref> Neither militant had publicly confirmed Faqir's statement, and analysts cited by [[Dawn News]] believed the assumption of leadership actually indicated a power struggle.<ref>{{cite news
|title = Rifts as Pakistani Taliban deputy claims leadership
|publisher = Dawn News
|date = 2009-08-20
|url = http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-rifts-as-pakistani-taliban-deputy-claims-leadership-qs-10
|access-date = 2009-08-20
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825001536/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-rifts-as-pakistani-taliban-deputy-claims-leadership-qs-10
|archive-date = 2009-08-25
}}</ref>

Two days later Faqir Mohammed retracted his claims of temporary leadership and said that Hakimullah Mehsud had been selected leader of the TTP.<ref>{{cite news
|title = Hakeemullah announced new leader – doubts linger
|publisher = Dawn News
|date = 2009-08-23
|url = http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-doubts-remain-as-hakeemullah-annnounced-new-leader-ss-07
|access-date = 2009-08-23
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826200323/http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-doubts-remain-as-hakeemullah-annnounced-new-leader-ss-07
|archive-date = 2009-08-26
}}</ref>

==Reported death==
After the alleged death of [[Hakimullah Mehsud]] in mid-January, 2010, Faqir Mohammed was one of the highest level leaders. [[Malik Noor Jamal]] alias ''Maulana Toofan'' was reported to have been appointed as head of the TTP after Mehsud's death but his leadership may not have been entirely accepted as there were also reports of deadly clashes between Toofan's men and those of a TTP leader in [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan|Kurram]]. Pakistan launched an air attack on a building where it was thought that Faqir Mohammed was having a meeting with Taliban figures [[Fateh Mohammad]] and [[Qari Ziaur Rehman]]. Fateh Mohammed was quickly confirmed as dead but the death of the other two was not known immediately.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/03/06/pakistan.militants/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn Taliban leader in Swat Valley killed in airstrike]</ref> Within days, Faqir Mohammed gave a telephone interview and claimed that he was not present at the attack and that all senior officials had survived.<ref name="cnn.com"/>

==Cross-border raids==
Faqir Mohammed launched attacks on Pakistani border posts from Afghanistan's eastern [[Kunar province]], across the border with Pakistan's Bajaur Agency, and was hosted by [[Qari Zia-ur-Rahman]].<ref name='expresstribune20110708'>{{cite news|first=Khan|last = Tahir|title=Cross-border cooperation: Ties that bind militants persist|date=8 July 2011|url= http://tribune.com.pk/story/204989/cross-border-cooperation-ties-that-bind-militants-persist/|work=The Express Tribune| access-date=8 July 2011}}</ref> Mohammed claimed responsibility for a 4 July 2011, attack on a paramilitary checkpoint and for similar attacks in June 2011 on several border villages in Bajaur. During a radio broadcast Mohammed stated, "Our fighters carried out these two attacks from Afghanistan, and we will launch more such attacks inside Afghanistan and in Pakistan."<ref name='ap20110707'>{{cite news|title=Taliban commander back on the air in Pakistan|date=7 July 2011|agency=Associated Press|url=http://lacrossetribune.com/news/world/article_9d1ad52e-72f8-504f-b6e3-29288ebff33d.html|work=LaCrosse Tribune|access-date=10 July 2011}} {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==TTP demotion==
In early March 2012 the TTP announced that Faqir had been demoted from his role as ''naib amir'' and would be "considered a common fighter."<ref name="newsInt20120305">{{cite news|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-38278-TTP-removes-Maulvi-Faqir-as-deputy-chief|title=TTP removes Maulvi Faqir as deputy chief|work=The News International|date=5 March 2012|access-date=5 March 2012|author=Yusufzai, Mushtaq}}</ref><ref name="bbc20120305">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17256129|title=Pakistan Taliban removes deputy head Maulvi Faqir Mohammad| work=BBC|date=5 May 2012|access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref> The main TTP spokesman, [[Ehsanullah Ehsan (Taliban spokesman)|Ehsanullah Ehsan]], reported that Faqir Mohammed had been conducting peace talks with the Pakistani government without the approval of TTP leadership.<ref name="nytimes20120305">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/world/asia/pakistani-taliban-face-a-leadership-rift.html|title=Leadership Rift Emerges in Pakistani Taliban|work=The New York Times|date=5 March 2012|access-date=7 March 2012|author=Walsh, Declan}}</ref>

==Arrest==
On 18 February 2013, Maulvi Faqir was arrested along with his four accomplices by Afghan Intelligence Officials while he was trying to enter [[Pakistan|Pakistan's]] [[Tirah Valley]] from [[Afghanistan|Afghanistan's]] [[Nangarhar]] province.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://dawn.com/2013/02/18/former-pakistani-taliban-no-2-arrested-in-afghanistan-reports/|title=Former Pakistani Taliban No 2 arrested in Afghanistan: Reports}}</ref>

==Release==
Faqir was released by the Afghan Taliban in August 2021 when it freed thousands of prisoners as it overran Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/pakistani-talibans-emir-renews-allegiance-to-afghan-taliban.php| title = Pakistani Taliban’s emir renews allegiance to Afghan Taliban {{!}} FDD's Long War Journal}} </ref>

==2021 Kunar Strike==
On 16 December 2021, reports of an attack of undetermined nature on a compound in the [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] province targeting Faqir Mohammad emerged. [[BBC Pashto]] cited multiple Taliban officials with conflicting accounts; Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Afghan Taliban said there were 3 rocket strikes by Pakistan in the [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] region but failed to report any targets or confirm injuries or casualties, the article further quoted un-named local [[Taliban|Afghan Taliban]] sources from [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] who corroborated that it was a drone strike, further adding the attack supposedly targeted Faqir Mohammad’s compound.<ref>{{Cite news|title=طالبان: کونړ کې هوایي برید نه دی شوی،‌ د پاکستان لخوا توغندي راغلي|language=ps|work=BBC News پښتو|url=https://www.bbc.com/pashto/afghanistan-59688338|access-date=2021-12-16}}</ref>

A [[Reuters]] article later quoted Taliban sources that a drone strike targeting Faqir Mohammad’s house in Kunar had failed to explode.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reuters|date=2021-12-16|title=Drone strike on Pakistani Taliban leader fails to explode, Taliban sources say|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/drone-strike-pakistani-taliban-leader-fails-explode-taliban-sources-say-2021-12-16/|access-date=2021-12-16}}</ref>

The drone strike came amidst ceasefire talks between the Pakistani Government and the [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan|TTP]] breaking down and on the 7th anniversary of [[2014 Peshawar school massacre|APS Peshawar Massacre]] by TTP that left 148 dead including 132 students, the drone strike is yet to be claimed by a state, or a non-state actor.

==See also==
* [[Khar (Pakistan)]]
* [[Kunar Province]]
* [[Nari district]]
* [[Dangam district]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Tehrik}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohammed, Faqir}}
[[Category:1970s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pashtun people]]
[[Category:Taliban leaders]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan politicians]]
[[Category:Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan members]]
[[Category:People from Bajaur District]]

Faqir Mohammed - Revision history

->Rlink2: Fixing bare references Wikipedia:Bare_URLs