Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has directed his militants not to target troops in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region and instead focus on attacking NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan, according to media reports. In a pamphlet distributed in the region on Sunday, Mehsud, the chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, asked his militants to abide by the peace deal struck by warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur with the government, the reports said.

“O ‘mujahideen’ brothers! As you know, the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban under the leadership of Mullah Muhammad Omar are engaged in ‘jihad’ against the crusaders and infidels, and are supporters of each other in the ongoing holy war. The enemies do not want to see us united and disciplined against them and are trying to divide us," Mehsud was quoted as saying in the pamphlet.

He reportedly said it was binding on the local Taliban to abide by the peace deal and other decisions for maintaining law and order in Waziristan.

Mehsud said all ‘mujahideen’ should follow decisions made by the local Taliban, according to reports.