Taliban leader hopeful of peace accord on Bajaur

KHAR, Dec 10: The fugitive deputy commander of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, has confirmed he is in peace talks with the government and that an agreement is in sight.

He said the government had released 145 members of the group as a “gesture of goodwill” and the militants had pledged a ceasefire.

“Talks with the government are in progress and both sides are likely to sign a peace deal very soon,” he told Dawn on phone from an unknown location on Saturday.

Fata additional chief secretary Fazal Karim Khattak, however, denied peace talks or contacts between the government and militants.

“Faqir Mohammad’s claim is baseless and a pack of lies,” Mr Khattak said.

He said the government would hold talks with only those people who surrendered weapons and gave up militancy.

Maulvi Faqir said if an agreement was signed for ceasefire in Bajaur Agency, the TTP would be able to sign a comprehensive peace deal with the government in Swat, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan as well. “Bajaur will be a role model for other areas.”

Maulvi Faqir parried a question about the basis for the negotiations.

Maulvi Faqir had signed a peace deal with the government after security forces launched an operation against militants in Bajaur and dismantled their hideouts. He then reportedly moved to Kunar province in Afghanistan.

The local administration also denied that Maulvi Faqir had returned to Bajaur’s Mamond tehsil in Bajaur and said “the administration doesn’t have any information about the TTP commander.”

Agencies add: Maulvi Faqir 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 said.

Previous peace deals between Pakistan and militants have rapidly unraveled, and were criticised by the United States and at home for allowing militants space to regroup before launching new waves of attacks.

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,” Maulvi Faqir said.

The commander refused to give details of the negotiations.

“Talks are going in right direction and soon we will be able to sign a written agreement,” he said.

At the end of Sept, Pakistan’s government pledged to “give peace a chance” and talk with its homegrown militants.

Maulvi Faqir said the government had realised that there was no military solution to the conflict in Pakistan. “We have no wish to fight against our own armed forces and destroy our own country,” he said.

“There has been development in our peace talks, but the government would have to show more flexibility in its stance, and restore the trust of Taliban by releasing their prisoners and stop military operations against them.”

He said that Pakistan and Afghanistan should unite against what he called foreign occupations by non-Muslims.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman denies peace talks

A Pakistani Taliban spokesman and another commander have denied the group is in peace talks with the government.

PESHAWAR: A Pakistani Taliban spokesman and another commander have denied the group is in peace talks with the government.

The militants contacted The Associated Press by telephone Sunday, a day after Maulvi Faqir Mohammed, recognised by many as the Pakistani Taliban’s deputy chief, announced the group was negotiating with the government. He was the first named commander to confirm talks.

Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan denied the claims, saying there would be no negotiations until the government imposed Islamic law, or Shariah, in the country. He has previously denied reports of peace talks by unnamed commanders and intelligence officials.

“Talks by a handful of people with the government cannot be deemed as the Taliban talking,” Ehsan told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Maulvi Faqir Mohammed has long been identified as the group’s Bajaur head. But he reportedly fled to Afghanistan in recent years to escape army operations.  He has long been identified as head of the Pakistani Taliban in Bajur and said a deal with the government there could be a “role model” for the rest of the border region.

But another commander, Mullah Dadullah, also now claims to be Taliban chief in Bajur. Dadullah contacted the AP on Sunday and denied the group, also known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban, or TTP, was negotiating with the government.

“As TTP chief responsible for Bajur, I am categorically saying there are no talks going on between the government and the Tehrik-e-Taliban at the Bajur level or the central level,” Dadullah said, also speaking from an undisclosed location.

Ehsan, the spokesman, said Dadullah rather than Mohammed was the head of the Pakistani Taliban in Bajur.

Pakistan welcomes investment from Singapore

SINGAPORE: Pakistan on Saturday welcoming, interest of the Singapore companies to diversify their investment in Pakistan, assured to offer them enormous opportunities, facilities and investment friendly atmosphere.

High Commission of Pakistan to Singapore Syed Hasan Javed while addressing a group of investors at a dinner reception hosted by him said, “Pakistan offered enormous opportunities for foreign investors as a destination with 180 million population and a rare location advantage as a gateway to half of world’s population in India, China Central Asia, West Asia and Gulf Region.”

The dinner reception was attended by group of forty CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of prominent Singapore companies and chairmen of prominent Singaporean Trade Bodies as well as prominent Pakistani professionals and businessmen.

The ambassador briefed them on Pakistan’s economic potential, resource endowments, investment policies and opportunities for partnership with foreign investors.

He said that global economic and financial situation were undergoing a rapid transformation and it was necessary for all companies to diversify for profit sustainability and economic survival.

The ambassador said Pakistan’s mineral resources were many trillion worth of dollars and it enjoyed a demographic dividend and vibrant agriculture.

He said Pakistan was ideally located in an energy rich neighbourhood and blessed with abundant energy resources of its own.

Pakistani manpower is hardworking, English knowing and quick at technologies assimilation and learning.

He said over 700 multinational companies are already doing profitable business in Pakistan and foreign companies are allowed 100 per cent repatriation of their Equity, profit and dividend and enjoy full protection under law.

Two PML-N ticket holders join PTI

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan. - Photo by AFP

LAHORE: Two ticket holders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Col (R) Rafaqat from Vehari and Dr Maj (r) Iqbal Cheema, from Sialkot along with their companions joined the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday.

They made the announcement in a meeting with PTI Punjab President Ahsan Rashid at the PTI provincial secretariat.

Welcoming them, Ahsan Rashid said the PTI would succeed in the upcoming election with the support of the people of the country.

Jundullah involved in recent Karachi blasts: CID

A Pakistani paramilitary soldier gestures toward media at the site of bomb blast near the main gate of Karachi University on Saturday. – Photo by AP

KARACHI: Officials of the investigation team, probing recent remote-controlled roadside blasts in Karachi, on Saturday revealed that the militant outfit Jundullah was involved in the blasts targeting Rangers, DawnNews reported.

According to SSP CID Fayaz Khan, evidences have been found indicating involvement of Jundullah in all four roadside blasts during the current week. Khan further said that the leader of the gang, conducting attacks on Rangers, was Fasih-ul-Rehman, a resident of Landhi.

He said the group had been operating since 2004, however they have obtained expertise in road-side bombings now.

The SSP CID further told DawnNews that the group used mobile phones to detonate explosives in their earlier bombings. “the group is now capable of  detonating explosives from far distances,” he indicated.

According to another senior police official, Rangers were the main target of the roadside blast near Karachi University earlier today.

The bomb exploded when a vehicle of Rangers was passing near the university. Two Rangers’ officials injured during the attack.

Pakistani Taliban confirm peace talks with Islamabad

PESHAWAR: The deputy commander of the Pakistan Taliban, who have been waging a four-year war against the government in Islamabad, confirmed the two sides were in peace talks.

“Our talks are going in the right direction,” Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, the commander of the Pakistani Taliban in the Bajaur tribal agency and the No. 2 commander overall, told Reuters.

“If negotiations succeed and we are able to sign a peace agreement in Bajaur, then the government and the Taliban of other areas such as Swat, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan tribal region will sign an agreement. Bajaur will be a role model for other areas.”

At the end of September, Pakistan’s government pledged to “give peace a chance” and talk with its homegrown militants.

There was no immediate comment from the administration on whether talks were actually taking place with the militants.

The United States is unlikely to look kindly on peace talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it has labelled a terrorist group.

Past peace pacts with the TTP have failed to bring stability, and merely gave the umbrella group time and space to consolidate, launch fresh attacks and impose their austere version of religion on segments of the population.

Mohammad said Pakistan had released 145 members of the group as a gesture of goodwill, and the militants had pledged a cease-fire.

He heads the TTP faction based in Bajaur, at the northeast end of the Pashtun belt along the border. He is known to be close to Al Qaeda.

Mohammad was believed to have been behind several attacks on Pakistani security forces. The army launched an offensive in Bajaur in August last year and largely cleared the region after months of at times heavy fighting.

Nawaz vows to unveil Benazir’s killers

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif addresses the public gathering at Airport Road in Larkana on Saturday. – Photo by APP

NAUDERO: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday vowed to unveil those behind the murder of Benazir Bhutto, DawnNews reported.

Talking to media, after laying floral wreath and offering prayers at the grave of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bux, Nawaz said that he had finished ‘no-go-area’ of Larkana today and the next to end was in Karachi.

He said government had failed to unveil the culprits behind the murder and vowed to bring the murders of his ‘sister’ to justice once he was in power.

He said no political statements would be issued here, otherwise his opponents would blame him for making political mileage.

“I have not used Sindh card by holding gathering in Larkana as I have only one card that is Pakistani card,” he added.

The party chief also offered condolences with Ahmed Ali Mirani, elder brother of Major Mujahid Ali Mirani, who was killed during November 26 Nato strike in Mohmand agency.

Sharif frowned over Pakistan’s airbases being used to attack its own people in northern areas. He said that he did not trust government-constituted commissions as the commission constituted to probe PNS Mehran base attack had done nothing so far.

Nawaz Sharif further said his party firmly support army’s principled stance of declaring the Nato strike a deliberate act.

To a question whether President Zardari was suffering from political disease or real disease, he said ‘some disease’ and declined to offer more comments.

Earlier speaking at a public gathering in Larkana, the PML-N chief said “Sindh is changing, Pakistan is changing and Larkana is also changing.”

Nawaz also said those who ran away leaving behind the dead body of Benazir Bhutto had now become ministers.

He said he had promised Benazir to work with her for Pakistan’s prosperity but the current government did not implement the Charter of Democracy.

He further said the government had not been able to help the people affected by the floods. “If Sindh can not help the flood victims then Punjab will come to their aid,” he added.

The PML-N chief said his party did not know how to run away after fetching votes and would work for Pakistan’s prosperity.

He said if the PML-N would come into the power it would abolish ‘dakoo-raj’ and would provide employment to the people.