ISLAMABAD, 16 November 2005 — A self-styled Taleban spokesman took officials and journalists in the North Western Frontier Province by surprise when he surfaced briefly to hold a press conference.
The spokesman calling himself Dr. Hanif, claimed that "Taleban proudly claimed responsibility for the Kabul blasts" in an impromptu press conference and quickly disappeared. He also listed the actions taken by Taleban have taken against the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) operating in Afghanistan. He said Taleban were mainly targeting the ISAF and the National Assembly of Afghanistan.
The claims brought about an irate response from NWFP officials, who said that these statements were highly irresponsible, especially at a time when most of the NATO troops based in Afghanistan have been deployed in Pakistan to provide medical and technical assistance to the Oct. 8 earthquake victims.
Reacting to this report, a senator from the province, Waqar Khan, said these elements are friends of nobody. "In my constituency, that is Dera Ismail Khan, neighboring Waziristan, such militants who claim to be Taleban or so-called freedom fighters are properly chased and arrested."
An MPA (Member of Provincial Assembly) from the Frontier, Zar Gul Khan, condemned Dr. Hanif's statement and said these terrorists should not use the soil of Pakistan for their inhuman activities.
Other politicians were of the view that these elements are trying to spoil the warming relations between Pakistan and the Karzai administration while trying to jeopardize the Pak-Afghan efforts to curb terrorism in the region.
In another development, the United States Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes said her country's relationship with Pakistan was long-term and wide ranging. The United States is fully conscious of the difficulties Pakistan is facing in the wake of an unprecedented calamity, she said here while referring to the Oct. 8 quake.
Hughes, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca and other members, was in Pakistan to assess ways to extend support to the authorities in the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met the visiting US delegation and briefed them on the loss to life and property caused by the earthquake.
Hughes and Rocca also visited Muzzaffarabad, one of the worst hit areas. They went around the tent villages and the newly established schools.
