[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/13/pakistan.taliban.threat/art.muslimkhan.cnn.jpg caption="Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan has courted local and international media in jovial telephone conversations."]
Ivan Watson
CNN
A Taliban spokesman issued a series of threats and ultimatums against Pakistani officials Wednesday as the country's military continued its offensive against the militant group in the Swat Valley.
Speaking on the telephone with CNN, Muslim Khan announced that all national and provincial parliament members from the Malakand Division, the northwestern region where the Swat Valley is located, must resign within three days.
"Otherwise, we will arrest all their families," Khan threatened, "and we will destroy all their buildings."
The Taliban spokesman issued a separate directive aimed at prompting a public show of support for the militants from Pakistan's Islamist political parties. "All these parties must help the Taliban," Khan said. "They must give a press conference to show the people that we need sharia [Islamic law] in the Malakand Division."
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Afghanistan • Ivan Watson • Pakistan |
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I can't beleive Pakistan is standing up to the Taliban,,,,what new agenda is this,,,,I'll have to check into this closer
The leaders won't do that. It would devastate the country and allow it to be ripe for the Taliban to be taken over because all the Taliban will have to do is just walk right in.
Nobody is that dumb even if the Taliban think they are. All the country has to do is ask directly for help in dealing with them. We're all quite tired of the Taliban and if they want to be wiped out in one fowl swoop, lets see them try it.
What a bunch of babies the Taliban are.
To be issuing these ultimatums the taliban must be getting scared that the Pakistan government is actually meaning business this time in trying to oust and eradicate them.
Cindy..Ga.