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Top Pakistan militant halts talks | Top Pakistan militant halts talks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A top Taleban commander in Pakistan has halted peace talks with the government, his spokesman says. | A top Taleban commander in Pakistan has halted peace talks with the government, his spokesman says. |
Last week Baitullah Mehsud ordered a ceasefire amid reports that he was close to reaching a peace deal with the new government. | Last week Baitullah Mehsud ordered a ceasefire amid reports that he was close to reaching a peace deal with the new government. |
But his spokesman says talks have broken down because the government refuses to order troops out of the tribal areas by the Afghan border. | But his spokesman says talks have broken down because the government refuses to order troops out of the tribal areas by the Afghan border. |
The government says it will deal with militants by dialogue and development. | The government says it will deal with militants by dialogue and development. |
Baitullah Mehsud is the man the Pakistani authorities say ordered the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. | Baitullah Mehsud is the man the Pakistani authorities say ordered the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. |
'Ceasefire firm' | 'Ceasefire firm' |
"The government refused to pull out its forces from the tribal areas which forced Mehsud to call off the talks," Mehsud's spokesman Maulvi Omar, told the AFP news agency. | "The government refused to pull out its forces from the tribal areas which forced Mehsud to call off the talks," Mehsud's spokesman Maulvi Omar, told the AFP news agency. |
However the spokesman said that they did not plan to start fighting again at this stage. | However the spokesman said that they did not plan to start fighting again at this stage. |
"Taleban remain firm in the ceasefire but Mehsud warned that if the government launched any action his fighters would retaliate," Maulvi Omar said. | "Taleban remain firm in the ceasefire but Mehsud warned that if the government launched any action his fighters would retaliate," Maulvi Omar said. |
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is not clear if this is a negotiating tactic, or the collapse of talks that appeared close to agreement. | |
Local newspapers have published drafts of a 15-point deal that calls for an end to militancy, an exchange of prisoners and a redeployment of the army. | |
Last week Mehsud's fighters issued pamphlets containing his order for his fighters to stop fighting. They said that anyone found violating the order would be punished. | Last week Mehsud's fighters issued pamphlets containing his order for his fighters to stop fighting. They said that anyone found violating the order would be punished. |
Baitullah Mehsud's stronghold is in South Waziristan, an area that has seen many of the heaviest clashes between militants and the security forces in recent years. | Baitullah Mehsud's stronghold is in South Waziristan, an area that has seen many of the heaviest clashes between militants and the security forces in recent years. |
American officials cautiously support the new government's efforts to reach peace through talks. | American officials cautiously support the new government's efforts to reach peace through talks. |
Our correspondent says that previous deals have turned the tribal areas into a sanctuary for Taleban and al-Qaeda-linked militants from where they have launched attacks in Afghanistan. | |
They also began hitting Pakistani targets when the army tried to stop them. | They also began hitting Pakistani targets when the army tried to stop them. |
Baitullah Mehsud is said to command about 20,000 pro-Taleban militants and a majority of them belong to the Mehsud tribe. | Baitullah Mehsud is said to command about 20,000 pro-Taleban militants and a majority of them belong to the Mehsud tribe. |
The previous government, that supported President Musharraf, said it had evidence from phone intercepts that Mehsud had organised the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in December. | The previous government, that supported President Musharraf, said it had evidence from phone intercepts that Mehsud had organised the killing of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi in December. |
He denies the charge. | He denies the charge. |
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