Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban have
threatened to contaminate water sources and reservoirs with
poisonous materials to pressure the Army to stop military
operations against them in South Waziristan tribal region.
The cantonment boards of Rawalpindi and Chaklala,
located near the federal capital, received the threat from the
banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
A letter in which the Taliban purportedly threatened
to contaminate water sources was faxed to the Directorate of
Military Lands and Cantonments in Rawalpindi yesterday.
The letter said the Taliban had procured 200 litres of
poisonous materials that would be used to contaminate water
sources and reservoirs in Rawalpindi and Chaklala, official
sources were quoted as saying by The News daily.
The letter also warned the government to stop the
military operations against the Taliban in South Waziristan,
the sources said.
Confirming reports of the threat from the Taliban,
Rafiq Adil Siddique, the CEO of the Rawalpindi Cantonment
Board, said the Directorate of Military Lands and Cantonments
has taken "effective security measures".
All six wards in the area have been divided into four
zones headed by engineers, supervisors, directors, tube-well
operators and valve men to ensure the security of water
sources.
Tube-well operators and valve men have been issued
special instructions to keep the doors of their offices closed
and boundary walls of tube-well sections are being raised, the
daily reported.
The military claims over 500 Taliban militants have
been killed since the operation was launched in South
Waziristan last month.
Troops have captured several key militant bases,
including the hometown of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief
Hakimullah Mehsud.
The militants have retaliated against the operation by
carrying out a wave of brazen suicide attacks and bombings
across Pakistan that has killed hundreds.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 16:12