Pak Taliban pooh-pooh ‘permanent peace’ deal claims
Islamabad, Feb. 22 : Hours after the North West Frontier Province government claimed that it has reached an accord with the Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for a permanent ceasefire in the Swat Valley, chief of the Taliban, Maulana Fazlullah, refused to have agreed to any such deal saying that the peace agreement was for only 10 days, The New York Times reports.
"We had only agreed to a 10-day truce and would consider an extension at the end of that period," Fazlullah said while speaking on his private FM radio channel.
Fazlullah added that he would discontinue fighting in the valley but would not surrender to the security forces.
He also said that the war against the United States would continue until it was defeated.
"War in Afghanistan continues and so does our `Jihad'. A `Jihad' against those who had handed over 600 `Mujahideen' to the US," Fazlullah's voice screeched over radio-sets across the valley.
Contradicting statements made by officials and the militant outfit proves that there is still uncertainty over the peace deal in the valley.
Fazlullah's comments put have Islamabad on the wrong foot, which had claimed that the Taliban has inked a `permanent' peace-deal with the government. Now, it seems that the Taliban has not entered into any `peace deal' with the government.
Earlier, while announcing about a permanent truce between the two sides, Commissioner of the Malakand Division, Syed Muhammad Javed said: "Yes, both sides will observe a permanent ceasefire."
Javed also said that all the schools would be re-opened from Monday, and girl students will also be allowed to appear in the examinations in `proper purdah'. (ANI)