Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan framed the militants' decision to stop attacking troops in Mingora town as due to concern for the safety of civilians and property. ``I would like to appeal to the people of Mingora to get back to their homes and start their routine life as we will not fire even a single shot,' Khan told The Associated Press in a phone call from an undisclosed location.
Asked if that meant a cease-fire, he added, ``No, this is not like that. Our aides will remain there in Mingora, but we will not attack, we will not fire shots.' In rejecting the Taliban's pledge to stop fighting, which Muslim Khan first made late Sunday in another AP interview, army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said the militants ``have started using ploys to escape. They are now remembering the civilians whom they used to behead and decapitate.'
He said the operation in the city would go on as planned. Commanders have said they aim to eliminate the militants in the valley and on Friday said any form of cease-fire was highly unlikely. A resident on the outskirts of the city said 3,000 people were stranded in his neighbourhood and were suffering.
``We do not have anything to eat. We do not have water,' said Liaqat Ali. ``We do not have medicines. We do not have any doctor or any hospitals to go to.' ``Bombing has destroyed our homes and shops and we had no choice except to leave the area,' said Ahmed Khan Bittani, who was evacuating with his extended family including 10 children.