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| Pakistan Taleban talks 'halted' | Pakistan Taleban talks 'halted' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Taleban's talks with the government in north-west Pakistan have been suspended amid army operations against militants, a Taleban negotiator says. | The Taleban's talks with the government in north-west Pakistan have been suspended amid army operations against militants, a Taleban negotiator says. |
| Pakistani troops and Taleban militants have clashed in Lower Dir in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), forcing hundreds of civilians to flee. | Pakistani troops and Taleban militants have clashed in Lower Dir in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), forcing hundreds of civilians to flee. |
| NWFP officials had agreed a deal that would introduce Sharia law in return for an end to the Taleban insurgency. | NWFP officials had agreed a deal that would introduce Sharia law in return for an end to the Taleban insurgency. |
| Critics argued the deal was a capitulation to the militants. | Critics argued the deal was a capitulation to the militants. |
| Ameer Izzat Khan, a spokesman for Sufi Muhammad, the cleric who negotiated the deal between the government and the Taleban, said: "Our council of leaders met on Sunday night and decided to suspend peace negotiations with the government in North West Frontier Province." | Ameer Izzat Khan, a spokesman for Sufi Muhammad, the cleric who negotiated the deal between the government and the Taleban, said: "Our council of leaders met on Sunday night and decided to suspend peace negotiations with the government in North West Frontier Province." |
| See a map of the region | See a map of the region |
| However, he said the Taleban still wanted to adhere to the peace deal, agreed in February. | However, he said the Taleban still wanted to adhere to the peace deal, agreed in February. |
| Mr Khan said Sufi Muhammad was cut off in his village in Lower Dir and no talks could take place until communication was restored. | Mr Khan said Sufi Muhammad was cut off in his village in Lower Dir and no talks could take place until communication was restored. |
| "We are demanding a suspension of the operation so that Sufi Muhammad is able to get out of his village." | "We are demanding a suspension of the operation so that Sufi Muhammad is able to get out of his village." |
| He added: "The operation is contrary to the peace agreement, and we believe there is no point talking peace when there is violence in the area. But a decision on that will be taken by our [council]." | He added: "The operation is contrary to the peace agreement, and we believe there is no point talking peace when there is violence in the area. But a decision on that will be taken by our [council]." |
| 'Self defence' | 'Self defence' |
| The situation in Lower Dir remains tense as families continue to flee the battle zone. | |
| The Pakistani military said troops killed another 20 militants on Monday in the Maidan area. | |
| The NWFP government said earlier that at least 25 suspected militants were killed on Sunday when they attacked army convoys. | |
| The clashes started when the government deployed troops in some areas of the district over the weekend. | The clashes started when the government deployed troops in some areas of the district over the weekend. |
| Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing the conflict zone | Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing the conflict zone |
| The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says this was presumably to prevent an incursion by militants similar to the recent one in Buner district. | The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says this was presumably to prevent an incursion by militants similar to the recent one in Buner district. |
| The operation came after 12 children were killed in Lower Dir on Saturday after playing with a bomb they mistook for a football. | The operation came after 12 children were killed in Lower Dir on Saturday after playing with a bomb they mistook for a football. |
| Civilians have begun leaving the Lower Dir area but many are still trapped in their villages. | Civilians have begun leaving the Lower Dir area but many are still trapped in their villages. |
| Karimullah, a farmer in the Samarbagh area of Lower Dir, told Reuters news agency: "I am leaving everything here and taking my family. We can't take a risk with troops fighting the Taleban." | Karimullah, a farmer in the Samarbagh area of Lower Dir, told Reuters news agency: "I am leaving everything here and taking my family. We can't take a risk with troops fighting the Taleban." |
| The Taleban spokesman in Swat, Muslim Khan, accused the government of violating the terms of the peace agreement in Swat. | The Taleban spokesman in Swat, Muslim Khan, accused the government of violating the terms of the peace agreement in Swat. |
| The Taleban warned of militant attacks in all parts of Malakand division - the group of six districts where the new Sharia law has been enforced - if the military operation in Dir was not halted. | The Taleban warned of militant attacks in all parts of Malakand division - the group of six districts where the new Sharia law has been enforced - if the military operation in Dir was not halted. |
| The government and the military say they still want to abide by the terms of the Swat peace deal and consider it intact. | The government and the military say they still want to abide by the terms of the Swat peace deal and consider it intact. |
| However, they believe that the Taleban are yet to fulfil their part of the deal, which is to disarm and to concede administrative power to government departments. | However, they believe that the Taleban are yet to fulfil their part of the deal, which is to disarm and to concede administrative power to government departments. |
| In Buner, the presence of the Taleban continues in main towns despite an announcement on Friday that they would leave the area and go back to their bases in Swat. | In Buner, the presence of the Taleban continues in main towns despite an announcement on Friday that they would leave the area and go back to their bases in Swat. |
| Troops have still not advanced beyond a border village. | Troops have still not advanced beyond a border village. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |