July 06, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 2, 1429

LADNI KOTAL, July 5: Lashkar-i-Islam chief Mangal Bagh has linked holding talks with the government to withdrawal aof security forces from Bara tehsil, release of all its detained associates and opening of bazaars and roads in the area.

Sources privy to the proceedings of a jirga that met Mangal Bagh in Tirah Valley said on Saturday that the LI chief was ready to hold talks with the government after the three conditions were met.

Khyber tribal region’s administrator Capt (retd) Tariq Hayat told Dawn that Mangal Bagh had, in principle, agreed to the jirga’s conditions. The jirga members would meet him on Sunday and brief him about talks with the LI Shura, Mr Hayat said.

He said that the operation put on hold on the jirga’s request as a goodwill gesture could be resumed on a five minutes notice. The government had presented a list of wanted men to the leaders of the banned organisation asking them to surrender, he added.

The sources said that the LI Shura had rejected the ban and set the three conditions for holding talks. The jirga is headed by Haji Amal Gul, who is also LI amir for Malikdinkhel tribe’s area. Other prominent members are Shaukat, Yasin Khan and Hashim Khan.

The government’s conditions for the LI included renouncing militancy, accepting government’s writ and surrendering its Shura members before the operation is halted.

The sources said that it was unlikely that Mangal Bagh would give up his activities and surrender.