Pak Taliban moving closer to Islamabad

In a development that will deepen the Wests concerns,scores of Taliban have moved into Buner district,100 km northwest of Islamabad,from Swat where authorities struck a peace pact in February aimed at ending violence.

About 20 vehicles carrying Taliban entered Buner on Monday and started moving around the bazaar and streets,said senior police officer Israr Bacha.

Villagers formed a militia to confront the Taliban and eight of the insurgents were killed in a clash on Tuesday,police said. Two villagers and three policemen were also killed. Pictures: left

Muslim Khan,Taliban spokesman in Swat,said: What law stops us going there? Our people will go there and stay there as long as they want.

Pakistani Taliban commander Mullah Nazeer Ahmed said in an interview with al-Qaedas media arm,Al-Sahab,that Pakistan was behind US drone attacks on militants.

Authorities were misleading the public by saying it was the US carrying out the strikes,he said,and it was the Pakistani army that sent spies to facilitate them. Ahmed said Pakistani Taliban factions had united and would take their war to the capital: The day is not far when Islamabad will be in the hands of the mujahideen.