CNN told: Pakistani Taliban arrive in Syria, more to come By Zahir Shah Sherazi for CNN and Saima Mohsin, CNN July 16, 2013 -- Updated 0036 GMT (0836 HKT) First batch of fighters has arrived, says Pakistan Taliban commander Next batch of 150 will arrive next week, commander says Taliban commander: al Qaeda in Syria will command fighters Peshawar (CNN) -- Taliban fighters from Pakistan have joined forces with al Qaeda forces in Syria to fight Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime. Pakistan Taliban (TTP) commander Abdul Rashid Abbasi has told CNN that the first batch of fighters has arrived in Syria and established a command and control center to launch operational activities alongside Syrian rebel fighters. Abbasi, a close associate of the Pakistan Taliban head Hakeemullah Mehsud, told CNN 120 fighters are already in Syria. The Taliban commander went on to say that another batch of fighters comprising 150 men will arrive in Syria this week. "We shall be sending more volunteers, but cannot give exact numbers at this moment, but we will provide whatever support is needed by our Syrian brothers," Abdul Rashid Abbasi told CNN. Abassi said the fighters were sent after the TTP received a request from the al Qaeda operational commander in Syria, Abu Omar Baghdadi. The TTP fighters will be under the command and control structure of al Qaeda in Syria, as it is leading the operation, he said. The Pakistan Taliban said it has also asked its local chapters in Mohmand, Bajaur, Khyber, Orakzai and Waziristan Agencies to recruit fresh fighters who are willing to go on their mission in Syria. The TTP claims many young men are registering to go on their first foreign mission. But the TTP's said it will remain based in Pakistan. Abdul Rashid Abbasi said: "We have lots of fighters here and our central command will be operating from here, so there is no reason to stop operations in Pakistan. They will go on as usual Zahir Shah Sherazi reported for CNN from Peshawar and CNN's Saima Mohsin reported from Islamabad. July 15, 2013 -- Updated 2302 GMT (0702 HKT)