MIR ALI: Pakistan’s Taliban movement is stronger than ever despite the killing of its top commander and will stage more suicide attacks if the army launches another offensive against it, a top militant told The Associated Press.

Qari Hussain Mehsud, known for training Taliban suicide bombers, met with an AP reporter yesterday at a secret location in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, just hours before a US missile strike hit the tribal region and killed 12 people. The US has launched dozens of missiles to take out top Taliban and al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan’s northwest over the past year.

Although Pakistan routinely protests the strikes, it is widely believed to secretly cooperate with them.

One such missile strike in August killed Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, and Qari Hussain Mehsud’s comments appeared to be the latest attempt by militants to end speculation of a rift among insurgent commanders following the killing. “Our movement has gained more strength after the martyrdom of Baitullah Mehsud,” he said. “We are united.” The militant commander, who appeared to be in his 40s and had a curly black beard and mustache, was surrounded by dozens of other militants and local residents. At one point, he assured those gathered that Islam allowed suicide bombings. The AP was given the interview on condition it not reveal the meeting’s exact location and wait a day before publishing the remarks.

The commander said he had been appointed the latest spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban’s new chief, Hakimullah Mehsud. He also acknowledged that he was leading a group of suicide bombers known as the “Fidayeen-e-Islam,” and said the attackers were ready to give their lives if Pakistan proceeds with offensives in the tribal areas. “We have enough suicide bombers, and they are asking me to let them sacrifice their lives in the name of Islam, but we will send suicide bombers only if the government acts against us,” he said.