The US has pushed for peace negotiations between the Afghan branch of the Taliban and Kabul, but the possibility of similar talks between Islamabad and the Pakistani branch could stoke concern in Washington. Past deals between the Pakistani Taliban and the government have broken down and given the militants time to strengthen their fight inside the country and against US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Maulvi Faqir Mohammed, who has been recognised by both militants and officials as the deputy chief of the Pakistani Taliban, had said on Saturday that the group was in negotiations with the government. Mohammed, the first named commander to confirm talks, said an agreement to end the country's brutal four-year insurgency was within striking distance.
Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan denied Mohammed's claims, saying there would be no negotiations until the government imposed Shariah, in the country. The group says it wants to install a regime.
Ehsan has on several occasions over the past six months dismissed reports of peace talks by unnamed militant commanders and intelligence officials.
``Talks by a handful of people with the government cannot be deemed as the Taliban talking,' Ehsan told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Taliban deputy commander Mohammed's main area of strength has been the Bajur tribal area along the Afghan border, but he reportedly fled to Afghanistan in recent years to escape army operations. He has long been identified as head of the Pakistani Taliban in Bajur and said a deal with the government there could be a ``role model' for the rest of the border region. But another commander, Mullah Dadullah, also now claims to be Taliban chief in Bajur. Dadullah contacted the AP on Sunday and denied the group, also known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban, or TTP, was negotiating with the government.
``As TTP chief responsible for Bajur, I am categorically saying there are no talks going on between the government and the Tehrik-e-Taliban at the Bajur level or the central level,' Dadullah said, also speaking from an undisclosed location. Government-militant talks could strain the already troubled relationship between Pakistan and the US.