The Pakistani Taliban today welcomed the new government's readiness to negotiate an end to the spreading conflict in the country but vowed to carry on fighting American forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Speaking at a gathering a several thousand tribesmen in the Bajaur region attended by Muslim clerics and militant leaders, Maulvi Omar of the Tehrik-e-Taliban said "all kinds of co-operation" would be extended to the government.
After winning a vote of confidence in the National Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said his government would talk to anyone ready to lay down arms to resolve problems afflicting tribal areas which have been a hotbed of Islamic militancy.
The government of Pervez Musharraf backed by the US were aggressive in pursuing militants in the area. Washington believes al Qaeda operates in areas of Pakistan which borders Afghanistan and that Osam bin Laden is hiding in teh region.
A wave of violence, including scores of suicide attacks unleashed over the past nine months, has been largely blamed on al Qaeda-inspired militant groups operating from tribal areas such as Waziristan and Bajaur.
Nearly 600 people have been killed in the last three months, as the militants intensified a campaign to destabilise Mr Musharraf.
Mr Omar, whose Tehrik-e-Taliban is an umbrella organisation for militant groups based in Pakistani tribal areas, said talks could be possible if Mr Musharraf's policies were ditched.
The Waziristan-based chief of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud did not attend today's meeting but his deputy, Maulvi Faqir, told followers: "We have no opposition to talks but the government has to ensure a complete ceasefire."