Pakistani militants say have no links with al-Qaeda, Taliban

by hussain | April 29, 2009 at 09:50 pm

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Describing the ongoing military operation in Pakistan's troubled Buner district as an effort to appease the United States, the Pakistani militants, who have been fighting the security forces in the scenic Swat vally until a deal was signed with the government, have said they have no direct contact with al-Qaeda leader osama bin Laden or leader of Afghanistan's Taliban Movement Mullah Muhammad Omar.

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing Buner operation is just to please the United States and these types of operation are neither in the interest of the Taliban nor of the government, the Swat chapter of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Wednesday.
Muslim Khan, spokesman for the TTP Swat chapter, said this while responding to a question by The News over telephone.
Asked whether or not there would be any reaction to the ongoing Buner operation in other cities of the country, he said: “The Buner operation is just to please America and nobody should fear of any reaction to this operation.”
“We are peaceful people and are abiding by our peace agreement with the Frontier government. However, this type of operations are neither in the interest of the Taliban nor of the (Pakistan) government,” he said.
When this correspondent asked Muslim Khan about the well -being and whereabouts of Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the TTP Swat spokesman said Maulana Sufi Muhammad is in good health and would soon make a public appearance.
“If the current situation persists, the Swat peace deal too might be affected. If the peace deal stands scrapped, the Taliban would not sit idle as a silent spectator and would exercise their right to self-defence,” he warned.
Asked about the TTP contacts with al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Taliban supreme leader Mulla Muhammad Omar, Muslim Khan said they do not have contacts with people of any other country. The TTP supports those who are waging Jihad against the United States and its allies but has no direct contact whatsoever with Osama bin Laden or Mulla Muhammad Omar.