Dawn : Militants offer unilateral truce in Pakistan tribal area: TTP spokesman

Militants offer unilateral truce in Pakistan tribal area: TTP spokesman

August 24, 2008

KHAR, Pakistan, Aug 24 (AFP) - Taliban militants in Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border Sunday offered a unilateral ceasefire as a two-week-old military operation left some 500 people dead, Maulvi Omar, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Taliban Movement)a said.

“We have directed our militants to stop attacks against the government and security forces in Bajaur from today,” he told AFP.

The decision has been taken following talks with tribal elders, he said in a telephone call from unknown location.

“The jirga (elders council) insisted that Taliban should stop fighting in the interest of the people of Bajaur.”

The jirga has “assured” that troops will also suspend shelling and bombing raids in the area, he said.

“We are ready for talks with the government and the truce is an important development towards dialogue,” Omar said.

No official reaction was immediately available to the Taliban offer.

Pakistani forces moved into Bajaur, a known hub of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, earlier this month.

The government says at least 500 militants have been killed since then.

Troops fired artillery shells and gunship helicopters pounded suspected militant hideouts almost daily since the operation was mounted on August 6.

The offensive also displaced nearly 200,000 people in the region.