Taliban militants in Pakistan Saturday suspended the dialogue process with the government, blaming the government for launching military operation in several parts, according to a private TV channel AAJ.
Baitullah Mehsood, the group leader, said that the security forces had launched "unjustified" operations against the Taliban, saying that the operations were negation of the government's pledges to resolve problems through dialogue.
Mehsood said that talks between the Taliban and the government in the Swat valley in the northwest should be considered as suspended. However, he said that his supporters would not launch attacks.
When asked about the government complaint that local Taliban had continued attacks despite peace deals and talks, he denied the government's assertion, adding that he had only responded to action by the security forces.
"The talks could be resumed when the security forces stop their activities and the government changes its policy," the Taliban leader said.
On the other hand, Interior Secretary Rahman Malik in his reaction said that the federal government had not held any talks with the militants.
He said that the people voted for the People's Party and nationalist group "Awami National Party" as they had promised peace talks before the elections.
Earlier, Pakistani Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said that the prime minister has given full authority to the army chief in connection with the military operation in northwestern Pakistan.
General Ashfaque Pervaiz Kayani has been given full authority in connection with the Peshawar operation and he could now decide whatever he deemed fit, Mukhtar was quoted Saturday by the private Geo TV as saying.
Mukhtar said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a meeting with the army chief, had authorized him for taking any decision as regards of operation.
Pakistanis are safe and the defense of Pakistan is in strong hands, Mukhtar said.
Meanwhile, security forces Saturday launched an offensive against Taliban militants who were threatening the main north-western city of Peshawar.
The crackdown in the Khyber tribal region followed increased sightings of Taliban fighters in the city, where paramilitary soldiers set up bunkers in Hayatabad, a neighborhood close to Khyber, and patrolled the streets in vehicles mounted with machineguns.
Source: Xinhua
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