THE intra-Taliban violence that has burst out in the struggle for the succession to Tehrik Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mahsud, has claimed the lives so far of the two men most likely to succeed him, Hakimullah Mahsud and Waliur Rehman Mahsud, at the TTP Shura meeting called to select Baitullah's successor as Tehrik chief. This has set up a continuation of the succession struggle down to leaders of less rank, but the method has been established. Even if someone among them did not value the Tehrik leadership enough to risk his life, and was ready to serve another man just as much as he was willing to serve Baitullah Mahsud, his life would still be at risk from the eventual winner, by virtue of being a potential rival. The episode throws a garish light into the workings of the Taliban in Pakistan, where it seemed that the law of the jungle operated at its most naked, and where leadership was only retained by those most ready to kill. And not kill the enemy, but one another. It also signals the beginning of the breakdown of the Tehrik that has been predicted for it, but those emerging from this internal struggle will be fiercer and more hardened in purpose than before. The state will have to be more on its guard than before, because the challenge posed by these Taliban will probably be greater than that posed by the movement under the late Baitullah. The government may well view the killings as encouraging, but should not view them at all as reasons for complacency. The late Baituallah's network is still virtually intact, and unless it is dismantled, the government can be sure that someone will take it over.