Reports of Taliban re-entering Buner, Army set for assault

Just a 100 kms from Pakistan's cosmopolitan capital Islamabad are a group of fighters who pose, perhaps the most significant threat, in the country's history.

On Friday it seemed, the Taliban was withdrawing from Buner, the closest they have been to Islamabad after a meeting with government officials.

But now it seems members of the Taliban are still inside Buner. This comes amidst reports that the Pakistani government is finally preparing for an all out offensive against the group.

There are reports that the government may even be thinking of launching a military operation against the Taliban after a tough warning from America.

The Taliban has already established a stranglehold over Pakistan's Swat valley having forced President Asif Ali Zardari to sign a deal last week that allows the Taliban to impose Sharia or Islamic law here.

PTI adds: As the fast-paced developments took place, powerful army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani vowed to crush terrorism and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, addressing concerns of global community over growing influence of the Taliban, said Pakistan was in "safe hands."

Taliban militants, who for the past three days patrolled Buner with AK-47 assault rifles leaving local police cowering in their barracks.

However, Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan claimed that they were withdrawing their cadres following negotiations between their top commanders and provincial administration with hardline cleric Sufi Mohammed, who also played a key role in the Swat peace deal, acting as a broker.

"Mullah Fazlullah, Taliban's top commander in the Swat valley, has ordered his fighters to withdraw from Buner district," Khan was quoted by Dawn TV as saying.

TV images showed masked Taliban coming out of houses and clambering on to open trucks to drive away from the region.