Taliban warn Pak media against 'ignoring' their viewpoint

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have warned the Pakistani media for "the last time" against "ignoring" the group's viewpoint and claimed that newspapers and television channels were hiding the truth and working as an ally of army.

Pakistani Taliban 'spokesman' Muhammad Umar issued the warning through an e-mail sent to journalists in Peshawar hours after militants attacked an army convoy in North Waziristan tribal region, killing seven soldiers and injuring 16 others yesterday.

Umar, who described himself as "a spokesman for the Taliban Media Centre" in North Waziristan, said: "Why is the media only conveying the army's point of view? Is this proof that the media is also working as an ally for the government and the army? Or they are being forced to hide the truth?"

"This e-mail should be considered a last warning for the media of Pakistan. If the media doesn't stop working as an ally of the government and the army, the Taliban would have to treat the media as they want to be treated," he said.

Umar said the media could either be with "the terrorists or the truth."

The Taliban have issued threats to the media in northwest Pakistan on several occasions in the past two years.