‘Pakistan in covert talks with Baitullah’

LAHORE: The military has delayed a full-scale ground operation in South Waziristan Agency against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud as the two sides have covertly reached an understanding, the Telegraph claimed on Tuesday. A report in the UK daily said details are still not known, but the military had deliberately delayed launching the attacks against Baitullah after “having corralled his stronghold in South Waziristan”. Around six brigades of troops have blocked the four main arteries into Baitullah’s territory, which thousands have fled for fear of missile strikes by US drones. Citing a senior official, the paper reported that authorities want Baitullah to announce that he would not attack the government in the future. The official said it would not be a “total surrender”, but a guarantee on Baitullah’s part that he would not indulge in anti-state activities in the future. The effort was underway because the military is engaged on several fronts and does not want a full-blown operation in Waziristan. The claims have not been verified independently, the Telegraph reported, but said the delay was sure to anger the United States. The military has denied such reports and said it wanted to surround the Taliban and then use air power and artillery to “soften them up”. The army has struck several peace deals with Baitullah in the past, but all have collapsed. daily times monitor

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