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Subscribe to RSSISLAMABAD -- Taliban factions in Pakistan have agreed to avoid killing or kidnapping innocent civilians but threatened they would continue suicide attacks and fighting against the country's security forces and their allies.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), headed by Hakimullah Mahsud, also confirmed it would continue to take part in attacks in Afghanistan.
Victims of the Taliban in Pakistan include Daniel Pearl, the American Wall Street Journal reporter abducted in Karachi in 2002 and beheaded. His remains were found in a shallow grave on the city's outskirts three months later.
"Yes we signed accord with three other major Taliban groups of Maulvi Nazeer, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and an Afghan Taliban faction to avoid killing of innocent people and kidnapping for ransom but we did not agree with them to stop suicide attacks and our fight against Pakistani security forces," TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan told NBC News by telephone from somewhere in the tribal areas.
The TTP, he said, has neither announced any ceasefire nor has any plan to do so in the near future, warning that their fighters would continue their operations in Pakistan.
He denied reports, attributed to Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar, that the TTP would move its attacks from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
"Look, for us Pakistan is as important as Afghanistan, therefore we can not stop our activities here," he insisted.
He also denied differences between the TTP leadership, saying Hakimullah Mahsud was still leader of the Pakistani Taliban and Maulana Waliur Rahman as his deputy.
Pakistan media have reported conflicting statements over a possible peace process between the government and militant groups since September, when political parties urged a new effort at seeking talks.
Militants and troops have continued to fight in several of the seven ethnic Pashtun tribal districts that form the main base of the Taliban movement.
Almost 20,000 people have been killed in insurgent violence in Pakistan since 2009, according to a database maintained by the New Delhi, India-based South Asia Terrorism portal.
Two people were killed and 15 wounded when a homemade bomb exploded in a market in Peshawar, capital of the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, police officials said on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible.
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Msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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What a load of B.S.!!!!!! The Taliban never keep their word and the Paki's, WOW, they never tell the truth. These two should make good bed fellows. Every suicide bombing that kills civilians will be somebody else's fault or the Taliban will not claim credit for it. Some how or another, the US will be blamed for the killings, and these nose picking, little boy lovers, corrupt, greedy Paki's and Taliban will continue to point in the other directions to keep the blame from falling on them. When the decision is finally made to light up Iran, I hope they save a few for the Paki's and their Taliban brothers.
"We'll stop attacking civilians. By conducting suicide attacks in the immediate vicinity of civilians."
The logic is infallible.
Now I feel quite safe. Should I thank Taliban and Pakistan.
Frogman, I can understand your anger and frustration but I assure you not ALL Muslims align their views with these Taliban people. We must learn the fact that views, however skewed they maybe, of one small group of people do not represent the entire nation. I am an American of Pakistani decent and by God I hate these people as much as you do, if not more.
Do you remember that priest in Florida who set out to burn copy's of Qur'an? I don't know what is your stand on that issue, but how would it feel if everyone started thinking and saying that oh look that priest and every American is against Muslims and Qur'an...I am sure that statement is absolutely false.
My friend, my fellow human being, please just for a moment think about what you are about to say before you go on a public forum. Generalization is not always the best way to go.
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day and Happy New Year :)
I would have felt a little better if you had said "Few Muslims aligh views with the Taliban", but you said "not ALL Muslims" which sadly indicates that many if not most do. As far as the nutball in Florida, who cares if he burns a book. It is just a book. He cannot burn the words of God out of your mind, heart, or soul, right? If Muslims said they were burning the Bible, I wouldn't care, because it is just a book - printed words on paper. What's inside the Bible is what is important, not the ink, not the paper. Get it? Sadly, I don't think the Muslims do. People died because of that incident. Human flesh torn asunder over paper and ink. Disgusting.
Melissa...you would have felt better? Well, gee I guess it's not always about how YOU feel. AmericanMuslim1 just attempted to make a very important point which you completely dismissed..."one small group of people do not represent the entire nation. I am an American of Pakistani decent and by God I hate these people as much as you do, if not more."
Your take and response was that "sadly this indicates that most Muslims DO align themselves with the Taliban." ???? From what I hear, it is exactly the opposite of what you said. Show me facts that support this claim because almost every single Muslim I've spoken to (Pakistani, Afghani, etc) refer to the Taliban as a disease that is plaguing that region. Honestly, who would like a bunch of extremist, barbaric, primitive group of murderers taking over a region/country...causing nothing but chaos, fear, violence and death on a daily basis against innocent men, women and children??
Take a look at this info which shows the massive loss of Muslim civilian life as a direct result of both the Iraq and Afghan wars...it is evident from this data that Muslims have suffered the most in this war on terror. Not to mention innocent MUSLIMS have died the most from suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism since 9/11.
Moral of the story...this is not a "Muslim" problem. This is about a group of evil extremists who happen to refer to themselves as Muslims, who wrongfully try to use religion, power, politics or any other means/justification to carry out violence against the rest. Whether you realize it or not, whether you like it or not, the rest includes the MAJORITY of Muslims who long for peace and stability...in their countries they desire a government free of corruption and they just want a normal life for themselves and their families. They are adamantly against terrorism. Why wouldn't they be against terrorism? It hurts and cripples THEM the most.
Things are actually pretty hard for many "normal, peaceful Muslims" today as they feel they are constantly under the radar... they have a tougher time getting jobs here, they have to worry about their young kids being bullied or harassed at school and some are being heavily discriminated against due to bigoted, ill-intentioned, careless, ignorant statements and blatant generalizations that are being circulated about Muslims out there today. We should all be united in our fight against terrorism. Why attempt to further divide people and encourage hatred against all Muslims? What real purpose does it serve?
Hey! They haven't converted to peace loving Quakers, but it's a step in the right direction.
This is nothing more than a unilateral declaration of a small part of the Geneva convention. Whether they actually mean it or not is relatively unimportant (because it won't and shouldn't change anything we do). But that they actually went to the trouble of saying it is a concession that what they have been doing is wrong and (possibly more important) doesn't work.
Rome wasn't built in a day. A small (very small, I admit) step in the right direction is better than the wrong direction.
Don't believe a word.
If these taliban are as honest as the US govt,then I guess we'll see.UUMMM
Since when have these low life muslim cowards worried about killing innocent people? Suicide bombers in the market place? And anywhere civilian people congregate? What a farce, muslims have only one goal, killing!
Jack: You are such a moron its not even funny. Who do you think Taliban are killing? Muslims you idiot. Who created Taliban? The US. So it is the US legacy which has created this monster. If you do not know the history of whats happening there, please dont pass idiotic comments, you Islamaphobe jackoff.
That and they of course define who exactly is innocent.
I think that their next step is to obtain a PR firm to assist them in the exploding popularity of their suicide attacks.
That's what the cave-office in Qatar will be for.
I think I need a Claritin now....I'm allergic to bull@!$%#.
In my view, don't be naive but give them a chance. If I were a vet, I'm sure I'd be saying b.s. For me, I say go to the party but don't eat the olives ...:/
Funny that the same NEWS STORY was printed here:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/01/al_qaeda_brokers_new.php
Except MSNBC conveniently left out the details that Al Qaeda brokered the peace deal. I say conveniently because just last week they heralded the Obama administration in stating that the "Taliban" ARE NOT our enemy.
we need a president that will not support any middle east countrys except Israel
Tom: Why does Israel need support?
While I feel for the innocent people in these respective countries, I can't help thinking that maybe al-qaeda and the taliban need one big simultaneous suicide bombing.
I think you should be the target of their bombing, not innocents.
The taliban talk like they belong to the republican party or atleast to the tea party.
Think how great it would be if these idiots turned to cop-a-cide ... No innocents need be cleaned up after any of those events! ...
"innocent" civilians. LOL If you don't fully support the "pork eating" taliban, you are NOT an "innocent civilian. You can trust their every word. NOT !!
Anyone who is going to believe these lying, international criminal scumbag, goat fkrs, hold your breath for one hour!
Kill all of these camel fkrs who kill innocent women and children and let their false God sort them out!!!
We'll *avoid* kidnapping or killing civilians. ++++ Alright *Thanks for your help*.
Don't trust the crazy towelheaded sons a bucks. They'll avoid kidnapping and killing but torturing and maiming are still on the agenda, especially if you're a woman. May they all O D on bacon.
I really hope they dont consider this progress. We couldnt negotiate with hitler why would it work with these a**holes
Don't mind my saying, i cant understand the theory behind killing their own people be it suicide bombing or just because you don't like the Pakistan's Secret service..? why you kill the people who are working for them, and also you kill women and children.