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TTP chief Mehsud rules out peace talks through 'media'
[Dawn] Criticising the government for not being able to take any substantial step towards peace talks, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud Wednesday said they would not hold dialogue through the media.Speaking in a rare interview with the BBC, he said the Pak government should have officially announced initiation of peace talks and should have sent a tribal Jirga to them for that purpose. "We don't wish to negotiate with the media....neither do we wish to hear the government's preconditions through the media nor do we want to put our precondition in front of it," said Mehsud. He said Taliban were ready for serious talks with the government and would welcome such an effort from it. He vowed to provide a government Jirga with complete security if it was sent to them. The TTP chief said scheduled withdrawal of NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization.... and US forces from Afghanistan will not change anything in Pakistain and vowed to carry on with their 'activities.' "We are engaged in a war with Pakistain for two reasons; firstly Pakistain is a friend of America and Ulema (Islamic holy mans) were killed and madrassas (religious seminaries) were destroyed in the country upon America's command." "Another reason for waging a Jihad here is the prevailing Kafirana (infidel) system in place in Pakistain," he added. Mehsud said the Pak Taliban will carry on demanding implementation of Shariah laws in the country even after the 2014 withdrawal. Acknowledging Pak holy mans' appeal for a ceasefire prior to peace talks, he said for any ceasefire to be credible it was important that US drone strikes on Pak land are stopped. Distancing themselves from terrorist attacks on public places, Mehsud said spy agencies were involved in such activities. "Purpose behind those attacks is to move the masses against Taliban so that public support towards us is stopped," he said. The TTP chief vowed to carry on attacking "friends of America and devil believers." When asked why previous peace initiatives had failed, he blamed the government. "The government of Pakistain bombs innocent tribal people due to the pressure of America... Drone strikes conducted by Americans were (backed) by Pakistain. Then the Americans pressed Pakistain to start ground operations in these areas, and Pakistain complied," said Mehsud. "So the government is responsible for past failures," he added. Posted by: Fred 2013-10-10 |
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