Islamabad, Nov. 19 : The Taliban has rejected the Pakistan Army’s claims of capturing strategic locations in South Waziristan, saying they have ‘voluntarily withdrawn’ into the mountains as part of a well planned strategy.

“We have not been defeated. We have voluntarily withdrawn into the mountains under a strategy that will trap the Pakistan Army in the area,” The Daily Times quoted self-proclaimed spokesperson of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Azam Tariq, as saying.

Tariq emphasized that the military would never be allowed to achieve its objectives in Waziristan, and that the Taliban would continue to fight the US.

He urged the Mehsud tribe not to offer any help to the army in the ongoing struggle in South Waziristan.

“The Mehsuds should stay away from the enemy’s propaganda which says they should raise militias against the Taliban,” Tariq said. (ANI)