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Pakistan Taleban quit peace deal Pakistan protest to US ambassador
(about 3 hours 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. Pakistan has summoned the US ambassador in Islamabad to protest at a US missile attack deep inside Pakistani territory on Wednesday that killed five people.
Hafiz Gul Bahadur, one of the two main commanders for North Waziristan, has been at peace with the army since 2006. The attack, in Bannu district, killed five local militants, officials say.
His territory has been the target of several missile strikes by suspected US drones from Afghanistan since August. The protest comes as a top Taleban commander says he will pull out of a peace deal with Pakistan's military if there are more US missile strikes.
A spokesman said the group would carry out attacks outside the tribal areas if there were any new US attacks. Hafiz Gul Bahadur, one of the two main commanders in North Waziristan, has been at peace with the army since 2006.
There is widespread anger and resentment in Pakistan at the increasing use of missile strikes by unmanned US drones along the tribal Afghan-Pakistan border.
Under fire
Wednesday's strike in Bannu was unusual because it hit much further inside Pakistani territory.
Previous drone attacks have been in the strip of territory along the Afghan border known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), a region where huge areas are under the control of militants rather than the central government.
But Bannu is in the North West Frontier Province where the government claims far more control.
"The American ambassador has been called to the Foreign Office to lodge a protest over the missile attack in Bannu," a foreign ministry official told Reuters news agency.
The US embassy said that ambassador Anne Patterson would relay Pakistan's concerns to Washington.
Meanwhile, North Waziristan militant Hafiz Gul Bahadur has demanded an end to the missile strikes. His territory has been the target of several missile strikes by suspected US drones from Afghanistan since August.
A spokesman said his 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 blockStumbling 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. The government has been pursuing a policy of ad-hoc peace deals with local Taleban commanders.
This has proved to be a huge stumbling block for a lasting political solution to the militant problem in the area. "Pakistan is directly involved in aiding America to carry out these attacks," Mr Ahmedi said.
Instead, the government has opted for ad-hoc solutions like peace deals with local Taleban commanders. He said the US could not attack any of the targeted areas without help from Pakistan.
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. The Taleban have a huge presence in Pakistan's tribal areas
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.
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 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 relationsDeteriorating 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 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. Hafiz Gul Bahadur - who returned to Pakistan in late 2007 after a year-long spell in Afghanistan fighting the US-led coalition - 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 the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says 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 refrain from conflict with Pakistani security forces, their views on the coalition forces are 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. The drone attacks have led to a change in heart in both factions. 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, our correspondent says.
Security experts now fear that a new and far deadlier round of suicide attacks could be around the corner.