Kotkai (Pak-Afghan Border), May 28 : A key Taliban leader has said that they will not accept any government condition to stop cross-border movement (into Afghanistan) to finalise a peace deal.

He said that the Pakistan government’s negotiators were insisting on a pledge to stop cross-border attacks, but the Taliban will not commit to such an agreement.

“First, we will not accept such a ban. But we hope the peace deal will be inked without a clause that puts restrictions on mujahideen to cross the border (into Afghanistan),” the Daily Times quoted Abu Zakwan, Taliban commander in the Kotkai area of South Waziristan, as saying last weekend.

Under the nick name of Abu Zakwan, the commander said that Waziristan was serving the region as “centre for jihad” and people from across the country were being trained for holy war “against the United States”.

Meanwhile, Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud broke his silence over differences with commander Maulvi Nazir, who ousted foreign militants from South Waziristan last year, and said: “He (Maulvi Nazir) has committed sin by helping the army (against foreign militants).”

“(Maulvi Nazir) helped army against mujahideen. He is out of the Taliban and Muslims’ rank. We would like him to come on our side and fight along with us against the army. But he likes to be friend of the army,” added Mehsud. (ANI)