World | Pakistan
'Secret talks' led to truce between Taliban and army
Benazir Bhutto's party condemned any dialogue between the government and Taliban militants, whom Pakistani officials themselves blame for the December 27 assassination of the former prime minister.
- AP
- Published: 01:04 February 8, 2008
Dera Ismail Khan: Government officials held secret talks with militants and tribal elders as part of a dialogue that produced a ceasefire announced by Taliban gunmen who had been fighting Pakistani forces near the Afghan border, two Pakistani officials said yesterday.
Benazir Bhutto's party condemned any dialogue between the government and Taliban militants, whom Pakistani officials themselves blame for the December 27 assassination of the former prime minister.
Few details have emerged about the terms of the ceasefire, announced on Wednesday by a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a militant umbrella group, after weeks of heavy fighting.
The government of President Pervez Musharraf did not confirm a truce but Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said the national leadership was ready for a dialogue with the Taliban.
However, militant spokesman Mohammad Umar said the truce would include the tribal belt along the Afghan border and the restive Swat region to the east where the army has also battled pro-Taliban fighters.
Tehrik-e-Taliban is led by Baitullah Mehsud, an Al Qaida-linked commander based in South Waziristan whom Musharraf's government has blamed for a series of suicide attacks across Pakistan, including Bhutto's assassination.
The two Pakistani officials, who are familiar with the talks, said they took place at an undisclosed location in South Waziristan. But they would not say who represented the government or how long the dialogue had been going on.
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