PESHAWAR: Rumours of possible negotiations were dealt a severe blow when the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) main spokesman categorically denied reports of a ceasefire after the militant group attacked a police station killing two police officers and injuring three more in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday.
“This police station was our target and our Mujahideens have carried out this attack,” the TTP’s main spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, told reporters. “We accept responsibility for the attack,” he told AFP.
“We are not talking to the government and will not be part of any dialogue with the government. This is a clear message for those who are thinking that we are involved in negotiations.”
The attack came hours after reports that the militants have announced to observe a ceasefire in the South Waziristan Agency.
Ehsan denied the ceasefire and said that they do not know about any kind of ceasefire and that they will continue to carry out such attacks.
In Wednesday’s attack two police officers were killed — including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) — and three others were injured when militants carrying rocket propelled grenades and other heavy arms attacked the police station.
“Two of our police officers were killed in the attack and three more were injured. We also managed to kill two of the militants,” District Police Officer (DPO) Sohail Khalid told The Express Tribune.
Sources said that the attack took place at around 4:40 am when a huge explosion was heard near the police station building.
“There were about eight to 10 armed men that attacked the police station with rockets,” said the DPO.
The ASI who was killed was identified as Akram. Meanwhile, Khalid ruled out the possibility of any prior information of the attack. “It was an attack by militants, most probably from the tribal belt,” he said.
Station House Officer (SHO) Zulfiqar and four other police personnel were shifted to a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan.
Sources said the militants took away the arms present in the building at the time.
(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY IFTIKHAR FIRDOUS and MANZOOR ALI IN PESHAWAR)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2011.
COMMENTS (16)
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Unfortunately this is the self-deception many Pakistanis who live in hate and denial like to tell themselves. It is simply untrue and uncredible, and there has been virtually no evidence provided by the Pak establishment.
It is as ridiculous as the old lie of 'sectarianism is committed by RAW' I used to hear in the 90's, sadly not just told by ignorant citizens, but many Pak security officials who straight out lied, gave no proof because they knew the truth of local and foreign extremist militants that were cultivated from the Wahhabi Zia years, but simply did not want to deal with the issue while bigots continued their proxy wars.
No you haven't. It's a rumour that's been picked up by talking pundits. What is the credibility of this source and where is it from? Has there ever been a serious investigation or report that's actually proven it such? No, it's made up fantasy, and sadly Urdu newspaper opinion makers are partly to blame for propagating it.
This was debunked ages ago and only ended up shaming those who brought it up.
Many men from the Tribal areas such as Waziristan miss out on circumcision due to reasons of poverty, lack of hospitals or barbers, or simply ignorance or lack of conviction of making it a priority. It kind of became ridiculous when our own wounded soldiers from the north were being identified as 'Indian agents' when they were discovered uncircumcised.
It has since then become a discredited methodology and test and no one repeats mentioning it anymore due to the embarrassment it caused. Unfortunately the conspiracy damage was already done for those steeped in confirmation bias.
@Yuri Kondratyuk:
Funny thing i rewinded few years back and eversince these people came into limelight i.e. 2007 they are our enemies supported by our enemies.
Really a funny thing
@Indian: Original Talibans despises and hate indians as much as any one of us do.
admit it or not TTP is funded and sponsored by your RAW. We have seen indian made weapons recovered from these savages. most striking factor is that upon inspection of their genitals, they were uncircumcised which means they are definitely not muslims.
save us from your "we are innocent" lecture and go ask from your government
Can anyone name an agreement that the Taliban has honored?
@Hu Jintao:
Mr. Hu burntao... Now Taliban is pro-India!!! Does your national stupidity have any limits? Pakistanis can drop down to this level? Man! 'Pakistanism' should be the new term coined for the infinite lower level of morality...
@Anti TTP:
Very very good!!! The next level of denial.. In psychiatric terms this is called as 'Projection' - a psychotic defense mechanism which means Pakistan is now heading towards collective psychosis... Now India will have more mad men to dig graves for in Kashmir.. Bring it on!!!
Shouldn't the news agency that claimed there was a ceasefire be held accountable in some way?? The army denied there was one. Just asking..
Anti TTP. Absolute rubbish. Without any proof or any claim, you guys continue to blame India for all your ills. Unless and until u see the mirror , you will never find the bleeding in your face. You are not feeling the pain of the cuts made by your hand, because you have become numb and dumb. God save fellows like you. May be sharia is all u want. Why dont u migrate to Afganistan in that case?
@Anti TTP: It is well known? According to who?
@N M Javed: Yep. Lets make sure to ignore the fact that TTP has said anything to do with the US is completely irrelevant to their hostility towards Pakistan. You guys are really talented at not hearing what you don't want to. Even if it's stated repeatedly and loudly. If the US disappears tomorrow, they will continue. Not only that, they'll probably heighten the intensity of it because the US isn't there to lend any form of support, especially near the other side of the border. They're going to love it when the US leaves and at that point, you're going to feel foolish and regret towards wishing for it. In the meantime, study up on Sharia, you'll need it if you don't want to blink the wrong way and get killed for it.
Unless Pakistan does not change its foriegn policy regarding ties with the US, we will keep on wintnessing such conflict in standing for longer. TTP is not merely a rag tag criminal group yet, it has transformed into an idealogical phenomena which is swiftly infiltrating into the mindset of Pakistanis. We can't blame India or other country for supporting these militants, since there are elments within our government who discreetly support the 'good' prototype of these militants .
It is now well known that Talibans are working for India. Islam and Muslims are not the problems of Taliban and they kill them mercylessly. Their main problem is money and weapons, which is being supplied in ample by shining India. Pakistan has paid for its wrong policy. Probably India too will not be exception.
We are with our forces. Pakistan Zindabad!
By the will of Allah, the cult of TTP and its supporters shall see very painful end to their fitna.