By IANS,
Islamabad : Curfew was clamped Sunday in various parts of Pakistan’s northwest tribal region for an indefinite period after a top militant commander said his group was abandoning peace talks with the government following the bombing of a hospital.
Security forces were stationed in various areas of North Waziristan, near the border with Afghanistan. The main road connecting Miranshah to Bannu district has been blocked for all kinds of traffic, Dawn News reported.
Militants bombed a convoy of security forces with a remote-controlled device, although no casualties were reported in the attack.
In a statement issued Saturday, Hafiz Gul Bahadar, leader of the Masul-wa-Khadimul Mujahideen group, threatened to carry out retaliatory activities if the security forces continued with their actions.
The outfit decided to wind up the peace talks with the government in reaction to the bombing by security forces of a medical complex and drug stores.
An understanding had been reached between the militants and the government in February 2007, under which security forces do not frisk tribesmen at check-posts and the militants avoid targeting government installations.