Pak rejects Sufi Mohammads plea

Sufi Mohammad asked us to halt the operation, NWFPs Information Minister,Iftikhar Hussain,said. The operation will be halted when the armed people lay down their weapons because the Government has to establish its writ at any cost, he added.

Mohammads spokesperson Izzat Khan said: The Government has given us assurances that the operation in Buner and Lower Dir will be finished.

Earlier in the day,a militant commander told The News that the peace agreement in Pakistans restive Swat valley was practically dead and the Taliban were awaiting the final word from Sufi Mohammad to bury it.

Our peace agreement with the NWFP Government has practically been scrapped,but we are waiting for a word from Sufi Mohammad for taking a decision, said the militant commander Tahir.