A senior Taliban commander on Saturday confirmed peace talks with authorities in Bajaur. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, deputy head of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said the Taliban were negotiating with the help of local tribal elders in Bajaur. "These peace talks are continuing only in Bajaur but certainly we will start such peace talks in other areas after we reach a written agreement," he told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Previous peace deals between Pakistan and Islamist militants have rapidly unravelled, and were criticised by the United States and at home for allowing militants space to regroup before launching new waves of attacks. Faqir Mohammad is the former head of Taliban militants in Bajaur and fought several times with Pakistani troops, who have been battling years to dislodge extremists. In late November, two senior Taliban commanders confirmed peace talks with the Pakistani government in South Waziristan tribal district. "We are satisfied with these talks, and want to initiate such talks in other areas," Faqir Mohammad added.
The commander refused to give details of the negotiations. "Talks are going in right direction, soon we will be able to sign a written agreement," he said. The fresh report of peace talks comes after Pakistan's fragile alliance with the United States crashed to new lows on November 26, when Nato air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in what the Pakistan military called a deliberate attack.
Although Pakistani and US officials dispute the precise sequence of events in the killings, Pakistan closed its two border crossings to US and Nato supplies and gave American personnel until Sunday to leave an air base reportedly used by CIA drones.
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