Pak authorities plan to ban local Taliban's activities

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The NWFP government plans to ban the activities of the Pakistani Taliban in tribal belt of the country, bordering Afghanistan, reports BBC.

The step is being taken following open arms display and series of attacks on video shops by the local Taliban in North Waziristan.

Report from north Waziristan suggest that hundreds of Pakistan Taliban armed with rocket launchers and heavy weapons took to the Mir Ali Bazar in North Waziristan and smashed television sets and audio, video cassettes. This was part of their efforts to implement promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, like in the style of Taliban.

The officials in Mir Ali have claimed that Pakistani Taliban stormed shops, seized television and smashed them in front of a large number of people. Eyewitnesses say that a number of audio and video cassettes were also destroyed. The political administration of North Waziristan was stunned by the demonstration of force by the Taliban.

The officials have warned tribal elders that in case of violation of law, the tribe with which these Taliban belong to would be punished. Officials hope that their warning would help prevent the Taliban's activities in the tribal areas because in view of collective responsibility, the tribes woul d try to control their youths to escape the government punishment. The number of Taliban in North Waziristan is on the increase.

According to official statistics, nearly 12000 Taliban are getting education in more than 90 madaris in Mir Ali, Miranshah and other towns of North Waziristan. The Afghan national forms forty percent of these Taliban who would join the ruling Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan after completing t heir education.

In the past too, the Pakistani Taliban have made their presence felt in Aurakzai tribal area, Hangu, Laki Marwat and other part of the NWFP through enforcement of Islamic Shariah, setting ablaze television sets and banning music tapes. Some of these groups have admitted that they have inspired fr om the Afghan Taliban and want to follow their footsteps by enforcing Islamic laws in Pakistan. But the Afghan Taliban have said that they have nothing to do with the Pakistani Taliban.