|
Khar: A top Taliban leader on Thursday vowed to target the US in revenge for an alleged missile strike that killed several people in a tribal region, a threat that bodes ill for the new government's efforts to negotiate peace deals with militants.
Destroyed in Wednesday's blast was a compound in Damadola village, a militant stronghold in the Bajur tribal region near the border with Afghanistan. A similar attack in 2006 reportedly missed Al Qaida's No 2, Ayman Al Zawahiri.
The government, meanwhile, used the lack of clear information to fend off questions about whether the incident would harm the peace process or its ties with the United States. Residents said they saw a US aircraft flying in the area before two explosions rocked the village. The US, which has not confirmed the incident, is believed to operate unmanned drones out of Afghanistan.
After attending a funeral for seven men said to have been killed, Faqir Mohammad, a cleric and deputy leader of Pakistan's Taliban movement, vowed revenge. "This is jihad for us, and we fully know the price we have to pay for fighting aggressors," said Mohammad, who is accused of links to Al Zawahiri and other Al Qaida operatives. "America martyred our people, and the blood of our brothers will not go to waste," he said. "God willing, we will avenge it by targeting America."
The alleged missile strike could embarrass the new federal government, which is trying to pursue peace deals with militants. The negotiations have stirred alarm in the US, which long backed President Pervez Musharraf's more forceful tactics. Western officials worry that such deals may simply give militants time to regroup and plan attacks in Afghanistan and the West. Maulvi Omar, a Taliban spokesman, has said the movement will continue fighting in Afghanistan despite any peace deal it might reach in Pakistan.
Responding to the latest incident, Omar said, "We will avenge this but will continue talks with the government."
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, asked about an attack apparently carried out by the United States, said: "I strongly condemn this. It's absolutely wrong. It's unfair. They should not have done this action."
"Several innocent people have been killed. We condemn it," Gilani said, according to a transcript of an interview with ARY OneWorld Television that was slated to be broadcast late last day.
The attack was apparently the first such since the new government took power. A spate of strikes in March had killed at least 25 people in the border region, fuelling speculation that Musharraf, whose allies then led the government, gave tacit approval for US forces to target foreign militants inside Pakistan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said yesterday he was "not aware" of any such approval.
He declined to discuss the implications of Wednesday's blast because investigators were still trying to determine if it was caused by a missile, a rocket or an "internal explosion".
A military spokesman declined to comment on the incident yesterday. The US Embassy in Islamabad deferred comments to officials in Washington, who could not be immediately reached.
Meanwhile, angry residents of Damadola yesterday stopped government officials from approaching the ruins of the compound.
PML-N sees alien hand
A senior official of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz says an alleged US missile strike that killed a number of people in a tribal region on Wednesday involved "external forces" who were taking advantage of disputes within the coalition government.
The strike destroyed a house in Damadola village, a militant stronghold in the Bajur tribal region near the Afghan frontier.
Zafar Ali Shah said yesterday "external forces" were taking advantage of the government rift "to violate our sovereignty".
I strongly condemn this. It's absolutely wrong. It's unfair.They should not have done this action."
|
