Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — A Taliban operative said specialists in urban warfare and technology
have arrived in Syria to join the war against President Bashar Assad.

The operative, Mohammed Amin, said at least 12 specialists were monitoring the
war and drafting requirements for Al Qaida-aligned rebels.

“There are dozens of Pakistani hopefuls in line to join the fighting against the Syrian Army, but the advice we are getting at the moment is that there’s already enough manpower in Syria,” Amin said.

This marked the first announcement of Taliban intervention in the Sunni revolt, which began in April 2011. Islamist and Russian sources already reported the arrival of several hundred Chechen rebels, regarded as the most daring fighters in Syria.

In an interview with the BBC on July 14, Amin said Taliban was setting up a base in Syria to assess the needs of the Islamist rebel movement. He said specialists, particularly Middle East nationals, have been operating in the country since May.

Amin, who described himself as coordinator, said the Taliban base began
operations in January 2013, but did not say where it was located. He said
information on the revolt and its requirements were relayed to Taliban
headquarters in Pakistan.

“They were facilitated by our friends in Syria who have previously been
fighting in Afghanistan,” Amin said.

Islamist sources said Iran has already recruited Shi’ites in Pakistan to
fight for the Assad regime. They said at least 200 Pakistani Shi’ites were
trained and equipped for operations in such cities as Aleppo and Homs.

“Most of the Pakistani Shi’ites are drawn to the conflict by the promise
of training and weapons, which they could then use back home,” a source
said.

  Chechen rebels, Islamist rebel movement, Mohammed Amin, Pakistani Shi’ites, Taliban ‘specialists’ join rebel forces in fight against Syria’s Assad, Taliban for first time claims operational presence in Syria