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Mehsud suspends peace talks

PESHAWAR: Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud suspended peace talks with the government on Saturday, as troops launched an offensive against militants threatening Peshawar. “We are suspending peace talks with the government because the government is constantly using force against us,” Mehsud told AFP by satellite telephone. “The government is not showing any seriousness and is using force against us. But if the government takes any military action we are also ready for martyrdom,” he added. Mehsud had announced a unilateral ceasefire in April. He said that his supporters would not launch any attacks, and denied the government’s claims that his supporters had continued attacks despite peace deals and talks. “The talks can resume when the security forces stop their activities and the government changes its policy,” NNI quoted Mehsud as saying. The warlord’s move comes amid mounting pressure on Pakistan to crack down on Taliban militants who have been launching attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan and expanding their influence in the border areas. It came hours after Pakistan deployed paramilitary troops for a clean-up operation just outside Peshawar in the Khyber Agency, security officials said. The district was one of the several areas where militants have tried to impose their sway in defiance of government warnings. However, officials have said that Mangal Bagh’s group was tied to the Taliban more by ideology than any military alliance. Security officials said Mehsud was more concerned about military operations earlier in the week to clear Taliban fighters loyal to him out of the garrison town of Jandola, in South Waziristan. agencies

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