Gaining an upper hand in the restive Swat valley in northwestern Pakistan after signing of a deal with authorities, an emboldened Taliban has told all NGOs working in the area to pack their bags, saying their activities are un-Islamic.
In a recent broadcast on his illegal FM radio station, Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah said, "All NGOs should leave Swat because they are creating problems for peace."
Fazlullah has also described all Pakistanis working for NGOs as "enemies of the country".
"They come and tell us how to make latrines in mosques and homes. I'm sure we can do it ourselves. There is no need for foreigners to tell us this," Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said.
The Taliban are currently engaged in peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi, a group of religious hardliners that signed a deal with the North West Frontier Province government to usher in peace in Swat.
Since the signing of the peace deal, the TNSM has set up Islamic courts in Swat and appointed Qazis to preside over them. The TNSM has also said lawyers and civil judges will have no role in the Islamic courts.
Muslim Khan told IRIN, a news network run by the UN, that "NGO is another name for vulgarity and obscenity. They don't want us to remain Muslims and want to take away the veil from our women."
{{/usCountry}}Muslim Khan told IRIN, a news network run by the UN, that "NGO is another name for vulgarity and obscenity. They don't want us to remain Muslims and want to take away the veil from our women."
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