KOHAT, June 13: The local Taliban have asked the provincial government for permission to patrol the Indus Highway passing through Darra Adamkhel for safety of passengers and government and civil vehicles.

Talking to Dawn by telephone, Taliban spokesman Mohammad said some elements were kidnapping people and hijacking vehicles in Darra Adamkhel, which was defaming the Taliban who had announced ceasefire.

“We are now bound to stop attacks on security forces, hijacking of vehicles even of NGOs and kidnapping of common people and government officials. A few criminals are engaged in this business and we are taking them to task,” he said.

“If the government is sincere in peace talks and trusts the ceasefire agreement pending for further talks it should immediately allow the local Taliban to patrol the Indus Highway,” he added.

He refuted a claim of the administration that the Taliban were involved in the kidnapping of a senior official of the International Rescue Committee and the hijacking of a vehicle a few days ago and said they were trying to locate the missing official and the criminals.

The spokesman said the peace talks had been delayed due to the absence of one of the members from the government side, who was on leave. He said the government should start the talks without further delay for ensuring peace in the region.

He condemned the US-led attack on a security checkpost in the Mohmand Agency and said it was the result of wrong policies of the government.