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9 October 2013 Last updated at 16:46 GMT
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Leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud: "The government needs to sit with us, then we will present our conditions"
Continue reading the main story Taliban Conflict
Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has told the BBC he is open to "serious talks" with the government but says he has not yet been approached.
In a rare interview, he denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places but said he would continue to target "America and its friends".
The chief loosely controls more than 30 militant groups in the tribal areas.
After being elected PM in May, Nawaz Sharif announced he would open unconditional talks with the Taliban.
The group has killed thousands of people in its war against the Pakistani state in recent years.
They control areas in the north-west and have been blamed for a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks.
'End drone strikes'
Continue reading the main story At the scene
Ahmed Wali Mujeeb BBC News
When I met Mehsud, I stayed for two days. I was surprised at his appearance. I assumed he was unwell because of his living conditions and perhaps the fear of being hunted. He has also not been seen in person or on TV for more than a year.
However, he was in good health. Drones hovered above us and came down very low. This terrified me but he remained very calm and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, we all have to die one day." He was very relaxed in the time I spent with him.
In the compound were some 70 men. They had travelled there to discuss internal tribal issues, grievances and regional conflict. It was clear he is powerful, feared and respected among the Taliban. He holds these daily meetings with tribal members to provide leadership and give direction on where attacks will occur.
On the journey to meet Mehsud I talked to shopkeepers, drivers and civilians. They all hoped the talks would end their decade-long economic and security problems.
While some in the Taliban still suspect the talks are a trick to lure them into arrest, many are more positive, given the government's repeated requests for negotiations. Last week, the Taliban supreme council sent a letter to all factions to seek their views on the talks. They are still awaiting the results.
The interview with Hakimullah Mehsud was conducted by the BBC's Ahmed Wali Mujeeb this month in an undisclosed location in the north-western tribal areas.
Asked about the possibility of peace talks with the government, Mehsud said: "We believe in serious talks but the government has taken no steps to approach us. The government needs to sit with us, then we will present our conditions."
Mehsud said he was not prepared to discuss conditions through the media.
"The proper way to do it is that if the government appoints a formal team, and they sit with us, and we discuss our respective positions."
Mehsud said he would guarantee the security of any government negotiators.
He said that for any ceasefire to be credible "it is important that drone strikes are stopped".
The second-in-command of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Waliur Rehman, was reportedly killed in a suspected US drone strike in May.
When pressed on why previous peace initiatives had failed, Mehsud blamed the government.
He said: "The government of Pakistan bombs innocent tribal people due to the pressure of America... Drone strikes conducted by Americans were [backed] by Pakistan. Then the Americans pressed Pakistan to start ground operations in these areas, and Pakistan complied.
"So the government is responsible for past failures."
Mehsud has a $5m FBI bounty on his head and is thought to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.
But in the interview he denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places.
He said: "We consider the safety of Muslims, of scholars, of mosques and madrassas as our sacred duty.
Continue reading the main story Hakimullah Mehsud
"As for explosions which cause damage to the life and property of Muslims, we have denied any link the past, we deny any link today."
Mehsud added: "We have targeted those who are with the infidels, America, and we will continue to target them."
When asked again whether there would be any conditions for talks, Mehsud said he would not discuss this in the media.
However, when asked about the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan at the end of next year, he said: "America is one of the two reasons we have to conduct a jihad against Pakistan. The other reason is that Pakistan's system is un-Islamic, and we want it replaced with an Islamic system.
"This demand and this desire will continue even after the American withdrawal."
Share this page
Share this page
Comments (293)
Advertisement
Leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud: "The government needs to sit with us, then we will present our conditions"
Continue reading the main story Taliban Conflict
Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has told the BBC he is open to "serious talks" with the government but says he has not yet been approached.
In a rare interview, he denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places but said he would continue to target "America and its friends".
The chief loosely controls more than 30 militant groups in the tribal areas.
After being elected PM in May, Nawaz Sharif announced he would open unconditional talks with the Taliban.
The group has killed thousands of people in its war against the Pakistani state in recent years.
They control areas in the north-west and have been blamed for a wave of suicide bombings and other attacks.
'End drone strikes'
Continue reading the main story At the scene
Ahmed Wali Mujeeb BBC News
When I met Mehsud, I stayed for two days. I was surprised at his appearance. I assumed he was unwell because of his living conditions and perhaps the fear of being hunted. He has also not been seen in person or on TV for more than a year.
However, he was in good health. Drones hovered above us and came down very low. This terrified me but he remained very calm and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, we all have to die one day." He was very relaxed in the time I spent with him.
In the compound were some 70 men. They had travelled there to discuss internal tribal issues, grievances and regional conflict. It was clear he is powerful, feared and respected among the Taliban. He holds these daily meetings with tribal members to provide leadership and give direction on where attacks will occur.
On the journey to meet Mehsud I talked to shopkeepers, drivers and civilians. They all hoped the talks would end their decade-long economic and security problems.
While some in the Taliban still suspect the talks are a trick to lure them into arrest, many are more positive, given the government's repeated requests for negotiations. Last week, the Taliban supreme council sent a letter to all factions to seek their views on the talks. They are still awaiting the results.
The interview with Hakimullah Mehsud was conducted by the BBC's Ahmed Wali Mujeeb this month in an undisclosed location in the north-western tribal areas.
Asked about the possibility of peace talks with the government, Mehsud said: "We believe in serious talks but the government has taken no steps to approach us. The government needs to sit with us, then we will present our conditions."
Mehsud said he was not prepared to discuss conditions through the media.
"The proper way to do it is that if the government appoints a formal team, and they sit with us, and we discuss our respective positions."
Mehsud said he would guarantee the security of any government negotiators.
He said that for any ceasefire to be credible "it is important that drone strikes are stopped".
The second-in-command of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Waliur Rehman, was reportedly killed in a suspected US drone strike in May.
When pressed on why previous peace initiatives had failed, Mehsud blamed the government.
He said: "The government of Pakistan bombs innocent tribal people due to the pressure of America... Drone strikes conducted by Americans were [backed] by Pakistan. Then the Americans pressed Pakistan to start ground operations in these areas, and Pakistan complied.
"So the government is responsible for past failures."
Mehsud has a $5m FBI bounty on his head and is thought to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.
But in the interview he denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places.
He said: "We consider the safety of Muslims, of scholars, of mosques and madrassas as our sacred duty.
Continue reading the main story Hakimullah Mehsud
- Became overall leader of Pakistani Taliban in 2009, aged 30, after his predecessor died in a US drone strike
- Masterminded campaign against Nato convoys in Khyber tribal region and Peshawar
- Emerged as a prominent fighter after reputedly leading a raid that captured 300 soldiers
- US authorities maintain a $5m on his head
"As for explosions which cause damage to the life and property of Muslims, we have denied any link the past, we deny any link today."
Mehsud added: "We have targeted those who are with the infidels, America, and we will continue to target them."
When asked again whether there would be any conditions for talks, Mehsud said he would not discuss this in the media.
However, when asked about the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan at the end of next year, he said: "America is one of the two reasons we have to conduct a jihad against Pakistan. The other reason is that Pakistan's system is un-Islamic, and we want it replaced with an Islamic system.
"This demand and this desire will continue even after the American withdrawal."