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<TD align=right><FONT face="tahoma, sans-serif" size=2>Tuesday,
December 12, 2006</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><!--include virtual="/inc/story_guts_print.asp"-->
<H2>Report sees Taliban mini-state in Pakistan </H2>
<P class=byline><SPAN class=name><A
href="http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news/bylines.asp?bylinename=Matthew%20Pennington">Matthew
Pennington </A></SPAN><BR>Associated Press<BR>December 12, 2006</P><!---------Code for Big Ads-------------------><!---------End Code for Big Ads------------------->
<P>ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A peace deal between Pakistan's government and Islamic
militants in the northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan has created a
virtual Taliban mini-state where mullahs dispense justice and fighters are
launching cross-border attacks into neighboring Afghanistan, a think tank
reported Monday.</P>
<P>The U.S. military confirmed that attacks have risen sharply since the deal
was reached earlier this year despite concerns it would give a freer hand to
Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants who fled to Pakistan after the fall of the
hard-line regime in Afghanistan in 2001.</P>
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<TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"Over the past five years, the (President Gen.
Pervez) Musharraf government has tried first brute force, then appeasement. Both
have failed," said Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group that published
the report. "Islamabad's tactics have only emboldened the pro-Taliban
militants."</P>
<P>That grim assessment came against the backdrop of a surge in violence in
southern and eastern Afghanistan this year that has killed close to 4,000
people, threatening the Western-backed project to rebuild the country and
establish democracy.</P>
<P>Government policy has allowed militants "to establish a virtual
mini-Taliban-style state," the Crisis Group said, citing reports of pro-Taliban
militants attacking music, video and CD stores, closing barber shops, imposing
taxes and establishing courts to impose summary justice.</P>
<P>The Pakistani government rejected the Brussels-based group's report as
"baseless allegations" and described the violence across the border as
Afghanistan's internal problem.</P>
<P>A senior tribal elder confirmed the Taliban had gained sway in North
Waziristan. Tribesmen were bypassing the government and traditional tribal
leaders and approaching their pro-Taliban leaders in the towns of Miran Shah and
Mir Ali to settle disputes, he said on condition of
anonymity.</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>