Tehrik-i-Taliban offers talks to govt

PESHAWAR: Naib Amir of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Maulana Faqir Muhammad has shown his readiness for talks with the government for removing differences between them as a third party has been using the situation for achieving their ulterior motives.
"Neither we have been targeting the security forces nor we are committing acts of terrorism and the impression that local Taliban are involved in these activities is totally wrong," a source quoted Maulana Faqir Muhammad as telling to an emissary sent by the government to him.
"We just want enforcement of Shariah at least in our areas. We are peaceful citizens believing in co-existence," the Maulana said.
He said that the Taliban had still been honouring the agreements reached with the government of Pakistan. "It is always the government forces, which have violated the agreements as we never committed any crime," he added.
He said that there were some people, who have been defaming the name of Taliban. "Taliban strictly follow the injunctions of Islam and the impression that Taliban have been committing the acts of terrorism is totally wrong," he added.
The source said that Maulana Faqir Muhammad and other Taliban leaders have extended full cooperation to the political authorities for maintenance of peace in the agency.
"We are even ready to provide our own men for maintaining peace and security in the agency," he added.
The source said that the political authorities initially rejected the offer of Taliban leaders, but now they had been considering a new deal with Taliban.
"Taliban want release of some their men before striking an deal with the government," he added.