Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban have warned the government of a severe backlash if it continues making claims of having broken the back of the militants in operations in different parts of the country’s northwest.
A statement issued by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan made a veiled reference to Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s remarks that the government had the militants in a corner thanks to its counter-terrorism strategy and rejected demands for a ceasefire ahead of any peace talks.
The statement was issued by the militants on Sunday, a day after Malik claimed security forces had broken the back of the Taliban. Malik had also said the people should unite to root out terrorism as Pakistan was moving towards “durable peace”.
The Taliban said those calling on the militants to ceasefire should seek an end to air strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
“Have those asking us to take serious steps ever called for a halt to the bombing of tribal regions by the Pakistan Air Force and American drones,” said the statement issued by Taliban spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan. “We had offered peace talks in the national interest but secular elements did not like our serious offer and they have started making non-serious demands,” Ihsan said. (PTI)
