Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the Al-Qaida is trying to install a new chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan after the reported death of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.
According to the Minister, the Taliban are in disarray and fleeing the area after Mehsud's reported killing in the US drone missile attack on Wednesday in South Waziristan.
Pakistan's newspapers are also full of stories on the Taliban's succession war after Baitullah's death reports.
The links between the Taliban and the Al-Qaida have existed for years. Many experts say the Al-Qaida has been a coordinator between all the factions of Pakistan's Taliban, and provided resources as well.
But the fact that they are now directly involved in appointing a leader is seen as a sign of desperation. The Taliban have created a safe haven for them in Pakistan, which is now under threat from US forces and the Pakistani Army.