Dialogue with Taliban: Clerics to ask for lifting anti-polio ban

DI KHAN: A delegation of clerics will soon begin negotiations with the Taliban, the political agent of South Waziristan announced to the media.

The delegation, comprising local religious clerics has been formed, and will soon begin dialogue with the local Taliban regarding the ban on polio vaccination in Wana, South Waziristan. Earlier, pamphlets were distributed in Wana by Mullah Nazir’s Taliban faction who had issued a decree banning polio and other foreign-funded vaccination until drone strikes are halted.

The political agent also said that the inquiry into immunisation of expired polio drops in the Shakai Valley of South Waziristan  has been completed, and  was sent to the Fata Secretariat.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2012.