Taliban warn of 'big war'

Taliban militants in the terror hotbed of North Waziristan have threatened the Pakistan government with a "big war" if the country's Army launched any military operation in the region.

In a pamphlet, Taliban Shura Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen asked the residents of North Waziristan to seek haven from Afghan President Hamid Karzai should a war break out, accusing the Pakistan government of violating a peace accord, according to SITE, the US group monitoring extremist websites.

"If army started another operation here, Mujahideen will start a big war in the area so local people are directed to form a committee of elders to meet Karzai and ask him for a safe place... to migrate," the pamphlet said.

It said though Karzai is himself a "kaffir" but he is still better to look after the peace deal than the Pakistanis.

"Brothers are requested to spread this news so that it reach the ears of Pakistani population," it added.

The shura alleged that the government is taking advantage of the situation and has established a spy network in the agency, and killed several militants and civilians.

It said according to the peace accord, government had agreed to withdraw troops from Janikhel and Bakkakhel areas of the tribal agency, but the number of troops had increased there since the agreement.

Pakistan Army launched military operations first in NWFP and then in South Waziristan and is believed to be preparing for an offensive in North Waziristan.