Tag Archives: a-peace-deal

Hamas leader: Obama must do more for peace

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal on Thursday called on the United States to take a more active role in the Mideast peace process "so that America and the rest of the world can take a break from the headache of the region." “We appreciate the new language Obama used toward Hamas, and it is the first step in the right direction toward launching direct dialogue without any preconditions,” Meshaal said in his address from Damascus, Syria. “We welcome this.” Meshaal — who lives in exile in Syria — is the head of Hamas, which rules the Palestinian territory of Gaza

Pakistan: Taliban near defeat in major city

The Pakistani military said Wednesday it hopes to clear Taliban militants from Mingora, a major Swat Valley city, in the next two to three days. “Security forces have made considerable progress in Mingora town,” the military said in its daily war roundup, making reference to the largest city in the Swat Valley. “House to house search is in progress in most of the areas.” The military said Saturday its push to clear militants from Mingora is the “most important phase” of its offensive against the Taliban.

Taliban seek return to peace deal in Pakistan

The Pakistani Taliban says it wants to return to a peace deal that recently collapsed, sparking an ongoing massive military operation, a spokesman said Tuesday. Taliban militants in Swat Valley have announced that they are willing to disarm if the government allows sharia, or Islamic law, to be implemented in the region, a spokesman for Taliban mediator Sufi Mohammed said.

Pakistan intensifies offensive against militants in northwest

Pakistan intensified its military operation to regain control of the country’s northwest from Taliban militants, with fighting focused on the largest city in the Swat Valley on Sunday. Troops were engaged in street battles with militants in Mingora, the gateway into the valley