ISLAMABAD: Differences in the leadership of the Taliban militants operating in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the NWFP have deepened, one of the commanders of local Taliban told The News on Tuesday.

“There are many reasons of differences in the Taliban leadership,” said the commander, who wished not to be identified. “The most serious difference between the Baitullah Mehsud and Maulvi Nazir groups of local Taliban is over suicide bombings in Pakistan,” he added.

The commander said that Baitullah Mehsud group has been an advocate of terrorism acts inside Pakistan since its emergence. He said the same group has been involved in most of the suicide bombings in different cities of Pakistan.

“On the other hand, the Maulvi Nazir group, which has been a target of most of the US and Nato forces, has not only been opposed to the suicide bombings inside Pakistan but majority of its leaders has also been advocating dialogue with the military and political leadership of the country,” he pointed out.

He said Maulvi Nazir wanted to avail of the dialogue option for conveying its stance on the situation in the tribal areas to the government but the Baitullah Mehsud group has always been opposing the talks with the government.

“Many of the Taliban leaders in North Waziristan, who are primarily affiliated with the Baitullah Mehsud group, also have close contacts with the Maulvi Nazir group that is based in South Waziristan,” the commander said. “These leaders of the Mehsud group want to establish close contacts with the political and religious leadership of the country to get the military operation stopped and get a safe passage for the Taliban,” he said.

However, the commander added, the Taliban leaders who advocate dialogue with the government so far could not achieve much success in this regard. When approached for comments, a senior official of the interior ministry said the government has nothing to do with the internal differences of the local Taliban. He said differences within the ranks of local Taliban might have emerged because of clash of interest.

However, he reiterated the government’s stance that talks would not be held with militants who are challenging its writ and are not ready to lay down their arms. “The government will not yield to any pressure from the militants and will continue its operation till complete elimination of the militancy,” said the official, requesting anonymity. “The militants have only option of surrender if they want to hold talks with the government and nothing less than this will be acceptable to the government,” he added.