Taliban leader threatens to break peace deal

Pakistan

Taliban leader threatens to break peace deal

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A militant commander close to Afghan border threatened Saturday to abandon unofficial peace deal.

12 November,2011 10:15 pm

Hafiz Gul Bahadur cited American missile strikes and shelling by the Pakistani army as the reason for his threat, which was made in a one-page statement distributed in the town of Miran Shah in the North Waziristan region, the militant leaders main base.If the government continues with such brutal acts in the future, it will be difficult for us to keep our patience any longer, the statement said.If Bahadur were to make good on his threat, it could mean more bombings in Pakistani cities and pose tactical challenges for the armys stretched forces in North Waziristan and other border regions.But the extent of Bahadurs capabilities are unclear. Moreover, Washington and domestic critics have urged Islamabad not to distinguish between militant groups in the northwest, saying they all ultimately pose a threat to the state regardless of their temporary orientation.