September 20, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 26, 1427

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PESHAWAR, Sept 19: Ansarul Islam, an armed group backed by Jamaat Ulema-i-Islam in Khyber Agency has refused to accept the Jamaat Islami-brokered truce between them and Mangal Bagh Afridi-led Lashkar-i-Islami in the Tirah Valley.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Maulana Mustamim Afridi said they had conditionally agreed to the ceasefire, but because their conditions had not been met they would not observe any truce.

The Maulana, who took up arms against Mufti Munir Shakir in support of Pir Saifur Rehman, joined hands with Maulana Mehboob after the Pir’s ouster from the tribal area. The Pir himself was at loggerhead with Mangal Bagh — the successor of Mufti.

Both the armed groups are in a state of war against each other and the tussle have left more than two dozen people killed during three months, while dozens other are held captives by both the groups. Release of these captives was one of the preconditions set by Ansarul Islam for a ceasefire.

Mustamim said his group would not agree to a ceasefire unless their opponents agreed to the release of his supporters, extension of the truce to the agency’s headquarter Bara and a pledge not to take action against his supporters.

However, Tayyeb Afridi of Lashkar-i-Islami said they were willing to accept all the preconditions of the truce without peace for three of the outlaws, who are trying to associate themselves with Ansarul Islam. “They have history of criminal activities and we will no longer be blackmailed by them any longer,” he said.

He said that they had agreed to the truce by the JI jirga and advised his opponents to comply with the same for peace in the area.

“I consider this as a golden chance for lasting peace in the area and would try my best to see it honoured,” he said.