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| Pakistan Taleban quit peace deal | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A spokesman for a Taleban commander in Pakistan's tribal region of Waziristan has said his group is pulling out of a peace deal with the government. | A spokesman for a Taleban commander in Pakistan's tribal region of Waziristan has said his group is pulling out of a peace deal with the government. |
| Hafiz Gul Bahadur, one of the two main commanders for North Waziristan, has been at peace with the army since 2006. | Hafiz Gul Bahadur, one of the two main commanders for North Waziristan, has been at peace with the army since 2006. |
| His territory has been the target of several missile strikes by suspected US drones from Afghanistan since August. | His territory has been the target of several missile strikes by suspected US drones from Afghanistan since August. |
| A spokesman said the group would carry out attacks outside the tribal areas if there were any new US attacks. | A spokesman said the group would carry out attacks outside the tribal areas if there were any new US attacks. |
| Waziristan on the Afghan border is believed to be a safe haven for the Taleban and al-Qaeda militants. | Waziristan on the Afghan border is believed to be a safe haven for the Taleban and al-Qaeda militants. |
| The US says the insurgents use the territory to launch attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan. | The US says the insurgents use the territory to launch attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan. |
| Since August, the territory of Bahadur and his compatriot Mullah Nazir has been hit 19 times by missiles fired by suspected US drones. | Since August, the territory of Bahadur and his compatriot Mullah Nazir has been hit 19 times by missiles fired by suspected US drones. |
| Stumbling block | Stumbling block |
| "Our council of leaders met under Hafiz Gul Bahadur on Wednesday," Ahmedullah Ahmedi, spokesman for Bahadur's militia, told the BBC. | "Our council of leaders met under Hafiz Gul Bahadur on Wednesday," Ahmedullah Ahmedi, spokesman for Bahadur's militia, told the BBC. |
| "It has been decided that if there are any drone attacks in our territory after 20 November, we will attack targets in Pakistani territory outside the tribal areas," he said. | "It has been decided that if there are any drone attacks in our territory after 20 November, we will attack targets in Pakistani territory outside the tribal areas," he said. |
| Pakistan's tribal areas are governed directly by the central government and have a separate legal system. | |
| This has proved to be a huge stumbling block for a lasting political solution to the militant problem in the area. | This has proved to be a huge stumbling block for a lasting political solution to the militant problem in the area. |
| Instead, the government has opted for ad-hoc solutions like peace deals with local Taleban commanders. | Instead, the government has opted for ad-hoc solutions like peace deals with local Taleban commanders. |
| In this regard, the spokesman said his group's deal with the local authorities in Waziristan was in place and they would abide by it. | In this regard, the spokesman said his group's deal with the local authorities in Waziristan was in place and they would abide by it. |
| But, he added, if the US continued its attacks, then areas outside Waziristan would be targeted. | But, he added, if the US continued its attacks, then areas outside Waziristan would be targeted. |
| "Pakistan is directly involved in aiding America to carry out these attacks," Ahmedi said. | "Pakistan is directly involved in aiding America to carry out these attacks," Ahmedi said. |
| According to him, the US could not attack any of the targeted areas without help from Pakistan. | According to him, the US could not attack any of the targeted areas without help from Pakistan. |
| "American and Pakistani claims that foreigners have died in the attacks are false," he said. | "American and Pakistani claims that foreigners have died in the attacks are false," he said. |
| "Only local militants and civilians have been killed in the missile attacks." | "Only local militants and civilians have been killed in the missile attacks." |
| Pakistan has three major Taleban factions led by Mullah Nazir, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Baitullah Mehsud. | Pakistan has three major Taleban factions led by Mullah Nazir, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Baitullah Mehsud. |
| Insiders say the militant groups in Bajaur and Swat actually draw their strength from Baitullah Mehsud's faction, which has been in open conflict with Pakistani security forces. | Insiders say the militant groups in Bajaur and Swat actually draw their strength from Baitullah Mehsud's faction, which has been in open conflict with Pakistani security forces. |
| Both Mullah Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur have avoided conflict with the government and kept a low profile. | Both Mullah Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur have avoided conflict with the government and kept a low profile. |
| Deteriorating relations | Deteriorating relations |
| In fact, in March 2007, Mullah Nazir helped the Pakistan army chase Uzbeks belonging to the al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan out of Waziristan. | In fact, in March 2007, Mullah Nazir helped the Pakistan army chase Uzbeks belonging to the al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan out of Waziristan. |
| Similarly, Hafiz Gul Bahadur broke away from the Baitullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taleban organisation once it openly declared hostilities with the Pakistan army. | Similarly, Hafiz Gul Bahadur broke away from the Baitullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taleban organisation once it openly declared hostilities with the Pakistan army. |
| But relations between both Bahadur and Mullah Nazir's factions, and the Pakistan government have deteriorated since the missile strikes started in August. | But relations between both Bahadur and Mullah Nazir's factions, and the Pakistan government have deteriorated since the missile strikes started in August. |
| While both the commanders had refrained from conflict with Pakistani security forces, their views on the coalition forces were quite different. | While both the commanders had refrained from conflict with Pakistani security forces, their views on the coalition forces were quite different. |
| In fact, Hafiz Gul Bahadur only returned to Pakistan in late 2007 after a year-long stint in Afghanistan fighting the US-led coalition. | In fact, Hafiz Gul Bahadur only returned to Pakistan in late 2007 after a year-long stint in Afghanistan fighting the US-led coalition. |
| But the attacks have led to a change in heart in both factions, as Mullah Nazir has already declared hostilities against the security forces in Waziristan. | But the attacks have led to a change in heart in both factions, as Mullah Nazir has already declared hostilities against the security forces in Waziristan. |
| Security experts now fear that a new and far deadlier round of suicide attacks could be around the corner. | Security experts now fear that a new and far deadlier round of suicide attacks could be around the corner. |