NWFP Govt. asks police to treat Taliban as guests, give free hand

Lahore, Apr 15 (ANI): The police has been asked by the North West Frontier Government not to interfere with the Taliban, as they are "guests" and should be allowed a free hand.

The Telegraph quoted a police official in Buner as saying that they "have been instructed by the government to stay away from the Taliban as they are our guests and should be allowed to walk around the marketplace."

Buner is the latest district hit by violence after the Taliban stormed it from the neighbouring Swat valley, where the government on Monday agreed to the Taliban demand of imposing sharia.

The policeman said he has been told that any action against the Taliban would be a setback for the peace process.

Buner residents formed a lashkar to resist the Taliban, and clashes have so far killed eight Taliban, three policemen and two villagers.

Authorities claim they were negotiating with the Taliban to convince them to withdraw, but the Taliban seem going nowhere and determined to take over the valley, police said.

"They are everywhere. They are visiting mosques and bazaars and asking people to help them enforce sharia," a senior police official said.

He said Buner was rapidly turning into Swat. (ANI)