THE Pakistani Taliban has announced it will orchestrate a wave of revenge attacks against the government after naming hardline commander Mullah Fazlullah as their new leader.

The rise of Fazlullah, who planned the attack on schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, by the Taliban shura, or leadership council, a day earlier follows the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud, the previous leader, in a US drone strike earlier this month.

Asmatullah Shaheen, head of the shura, said: "We will target security forces, government installations, political leaders and police."

He said the Taliban's main targets included army and government installations in Punjab province, the political stronghold of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Shaheen added: "We have a plan but I want to make one thing clear. We will not target civilians, bazaars or public places. People do not need to be afraid."

Pakistan publicly condemns US drone strikes as a breach of its sovereignty but in private, officials admit the government broadly supports them. Militants are mainly holed up in remote areas on the Afghan border where the army has no presence.

Shaheen said: "Pakistan is a slave of America. It is an American colony."

Attacks have been on the rise since Mr Sharif came to power in the nuclear-armed nation in May, which has been a concern for global powers.