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India-Pakistan | |||||
Ready to negotiate but not disarm: Taleban | |||||
2012-12-29 | |||||
The head of Pakistan’s Taleban said his militia is willing to negotiate with the government but not disarm, a message delivered in a video given to Reuters on Friday. The release of the 40-minute video follows three high-profile Taleban attacks in the northern city of Peshawar this month: an attack by multiple suicide bombers on the airport, the killing of a senior politician and eight others in a bombing and the kidnap of 22 paramilitary forces on Thursday. “We believe in dialogue but it should not be frivolous,” Hakimullah Mehsud said. “Asking us to lay down arms is a joke.” In the video, Mehsud sits cradling a rifle next to his deputy, Waliur Rehman. Military officials say there has been a split between the two men but Mehsud said that was propaganda. “Waliur Rehman is sitting with me here and we will be together until death,” said Mehsud, pointing at his companion.
“We are against the democratic system because it is un-Islamic,” Mehsud said. “Our war isn’t against any party. It is against the non-Islamic system and anyone who supports it.”
Mehsud said that the Pakistan Taleban would follow the lead of the Afghan Taleban when it came to forming policy after most Nato troops withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014. “We are Afghan Taleban and Afghan Taleban are us,” he said. “We are with them and Al Qaeda. We are even willing to get our heads cut off for Al Qaeda.”
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Posted by:Steve White |
#1 In other words, give them everything they want and they'll then agree to behave. They sound like Paleostinians. Or Soviets... Or Senate Democrats. |
Posted by: USN,Ret. 2012-12-29 11:11 |