Pakistani Taliban Leader Pulls Out of Peace Talks
By VOA News
28 April 2008
Pakistan's top Taliban commander has suspended rare peace talks with the country's new government.
A spokesman for Baitullah Mehsud said Monday that Mehsud broke off the talks because the government is refusing to withdraw the army from a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. There has been no word from government officials.
Last week, Mehsud ordered his fighters to stop attacking Pakistan forces, as reports surfaced the government had begun negotiating a 15-point peace deal with his group.
Mehsud is the commander of the militant group called Tehrik-e-Taliban, based in South Waziristan.
The United States and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf have accused Mehsud of planning last year's assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Mehsud denies the charge.
The peace talks are a rare break in Pakistan's hardline stance toward terrorists, and drew concern from U.S. officials.
Pakistan's new government defeated Mr. Musharraf's U.S.-backed allies in February elections and has pledged to overhaul the country's anti-terrorism policy.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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