Islamabad: The outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has ruled out any negotiations with the government and claimed that it has taken control of most areas of the South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
Shamim Mehsud, a key operational commander and chief of the Taliban in Laddah sub-division, rejected the possibility of any contacts with the government under the present circumstances.
He told a delegation of tribal journalists at a Taliban command and control centre in South Waziristan that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan will not hold talks with the government till 'Shariah' or Islamic law is enforced, security forces are withdrawn from tribal areas, compensation is paid to tribals for the destruction of their homes and properties, and Taliban fighters are released from Pakistani prisons.
Mehsud refuted the claim of security forces that the government's writ had been enforced in South Waziristan. "If there is control of security forces, how will we freely run our training, control and command centres," he said.
He said the US-led NATO forces and Pakistani security personnel were united against the Taliban fighters.
He was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying that if the troops had atom bombs, fighter jets, tanks and other weapons, "we have the assistance of Allah and spirit of jihad."
"They can't match our fidayeen (would-be suicide bomber) squad. The bones of fidayeen are bullets and shrapnel, meat is explosive and blood is petrol for the infidel forces," Mehsud said.
The journalists were invited to meet commander Waliur Rehman, head of the Taliban in South Waziristan Taliban, but he was busy in meetings with Taliban delegations from Afghanistan and other areas of Pakistan. The journalists then
met Shamim Mehsud, the report said.
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