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Swat's Taleban expand operations | Swat's Taleban expand operations |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Taleban militants operating in Pakistan's Swat region who agreed a peace deal with the government have expanded operations into nearby Buner. | |
Dozens of militants have been streaming into bordering Buner to take over mosques and government offices. | |
Buner is part of the Malakand region, which has just seen the implementation of Sharia law under the peace deal. | |
But the Taleban have mainly operated in Swat, where they fought the army from August 2007 until this year's deal. | |
Under the deal the Taleban were expected to disarm. | |
Buner district is only about 100km (62 miles) from the capital, Islamabad. | |
Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for North West Frontier Province, said he had received reports of the Taleban expansion. | Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for North West Frontier Province, said he had received reports of the Taleban expansion. |
Recent reports said the Taleban had ransacked the offices of international aid and development agencies working in Buner. | Recent reports said the Taleban had ransacked the offices of international aid and development agencies working in Buner. |
Some employees of the agencies were also briefly taken hostage before being released on Monday. | Some employees of the agencies were also briefly taken hostage before being released on Monday. |
Patrols | Patrols |
The Taleban have banned the playing of music in cars and are also using mosques to invite local youth to join them. | The Taleban have banned the playing of music in cars and are also using mosques to invite local youth to join them. |
We implemented Sharia law as it was a demand of the people, not just the Taleban Mian Iftikhar Hussain,NWFP official | We implemented Sharia law as it was a demand of the people, not just the Taleban Mian Iftikhar Hussain,NWFP official |
The Taleban have also started regular patrols in the district. | The Taleban have also started regular patrols in the district. |
Buner's police chief, Rashid Khan, said the police had lodged an official complaint over the matter. | Buner's police chief, Rashid Khan, said the police had lodged an official complaint over the matter. |
But the Taleban are not mentioned in the reports, which only names "unknown persons" as the culprits. | But the Taleban are not mentioned in the reports, which only names "unknown persons" as the culprits. |
Mian Iftikhar Hussain maintains that the Taleban must disarm as agreed under the peace deal. | Mian Iftikhar Hussain maintains that the Taleban must disarm as agreed under the peace deal. |
"Even Sufi Mohammad has said that there is no reason for the Taleban not to disarm," he said. | "Even Sufi Mohammad has said that there is no reason for the Taleban not to disarm," he said. |
He was referring to the head of a local religious group who has been acting as the government's chief negotiator with the Taleban. | He was referring to the head of a local religious group who has been acting as the government's chief negotiator with the Taleban. |
"We initially adopted the path of dialogue and reconciliation, but this is as far as we can go," Mr Hussain said. | "We initially adopted the path of dialogue and reconciliation, but this is as far as we can go," Mr Hussain said. |
"We implemented Sharia law as it was a demand of the people, not just the Taleban. | "We implemented Sharia law as it was a demand of the people, not just the Taleban. |
"If they continue with their activities, they will not have the support of the people. | "If they continue with their activities, they will not have the support of the people. |
"The majority of the people are now with the government. The government will not stand by and tolerate [the violation of] the peace deal." | "The majority of the people are now with the government. The government will not stand by and tolerate [the violation of] the peace deal." |
The Taleban say they will not lay down their arms until Sharia is fully implemented. | |
Muslim Khan, a spokesman for the Swat Taleban, said his movement's aim was the enforcement of Sharia law in all of Pakistan. | |
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