Pakistan's Taliban leader vows jihad in Afghanistan

Kotkai: The leader of the Pakistani Taliban vowed on Saturday to carry on fighting Nato and US-led forces in Afghanistan regardless of negotiations for a peace deal with the government of Pakistan.

Baitullah Mehsud told a group of journalists, invited to his stronghold in the tribal lands of South Waziristan, that he wanted to stop fighting the Pakistan army.

Mehsud said, "Fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan is harming Islam and Pakistan. This fighting should come to an end immediately."

But he made no commitment about halting attacks in Afghanistan, and said the jihad, or holy war, would carry on.

He said, "Islam does not recognise frontiers and boundaries. Jihad in Afghanistan will continue."