July 30, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1429

KOHAT, July 29: The government has handed over to a jirga a list of demands that it wants the Taliban to accept unconditionally.

The jirga will meet a militant commander in Orakzai Agency on Wednesday.

Tribal elders held an eight-hour meeting with the local administration on Tuesday, after which official finalised the demands in consultation with the provincial and central governments.

The founding chairman of the Taliban Tehrik in Orakzai, Akhunzada Mohammad Aslam Farooqui, and other leaders also attended the meeting.

Mr Farooqui’s organisation suspended its activities some time ago. According to sources, the government wants the Taliban to release all hostages unconditionally and stop interfering in government affairs and kidnapping and harassing officials. They must also stop attacks on government buildings and security personnel.

It was agreed at the meeting that any accord reached with the Taliban would be made public so that local people could set up a force to ensure that the militants abided by it.

Some jirga members said the government was claiming that the ceasefire agreement in the area was a result of the military operation against the Taliban, despite the fact that the 18 major tribes of Orakzai had played a major role in forcing the militants to stop fighting.

They said that killings and incursions by the allied forces and continuation of military operations in Waziristan and elsewhere were obstructing peace efforts and provoking the militants to launch attacks.