The Pakistani Taliban is planning attacks on foreigners offering assistance in the aftermath of devastating floods in Pakistan, a US official warned Wednesday. "According to information available to the US government, Tehreek-e-Taliban plans to conduct attacks against foreigners participating in the ongoing flood relief operations in Pakistan," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Tehreek-e-Taliban also may be making plans to attack federal and provincial ministers in Islamabad," the official warned. US officials had earlier said they had not encountered any hostilities in flying aid to stricken parts of the country, where rancour towards the United States runs deep.
The floods may have provided the Pakistani Taliban with some breathing space, according to the head of the US Marine Corps, General James Conway. He said Tuesday the disaster had forced the Pakistani military to scale back some operations against Taliban militants in the north-west. Despite the warnings of possible attacks, a top US general overseeing the American military's relief efforts told reporters that US forces had faced no security problems.
"We have seen no security threat whatsoever in the three weeks we have been operating here," Brigadier General Michael Nagata said Wednesday via video link from northern Pakistan. He said the Pakistani military "have done a commendable job and a highly effective job in providing our force protection and security while we are here in Pakistan."
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