Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has
told the BBC he is open to "serious talks" with
the government but says he has not yet been
approached.
In a rare interview, he denied carrying out recent
deadly attacks in public places but said he would
continue to target "America and its friends".
The chief loosely controls more than 30 militant groups
in the tribal areas.
After being elected PM in May, Nawaz Sharif announced
he would open unconditional talks with the Taliban.
The group has killed thousands of people in its war
against the Pakistani state in recent years.
They control areas in the north-west and have been
blamed for a wave of suicide bombings and other
attacks.
'End drone strikes'
The interview with Hakimullah Mehsud was conducted
by the BBC's Ahmed Wali Mujeeb this month in an
undisclosed location in the north-western tribal areas.
Asked about the possibility of peace talks with the
government, Mehsud said: "We believe in serious talks
but the government has taken no steps to approach us.
The government needs to sit with us, then we will
present our conditions."
Mehsud said he was not prepared to discuss conditions
through the media.
"The proper way to do it is that if the government
appoints a formal team, and they sit with us, and we
discuss our respective positions."
Mehsud said he would guarantee the security of any
government negotiators.
He said that for any ceasefire to be credible "it is
important that drone strikes are stopped".
The second-in-command of the Pakistani Taliban, or
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Waliur Rehman, was
reportedly killed in a suspected US drone strike in May.
When pressed on why previous peace initiatives had
failed, Mehsud blamed the government.
He said: "The government of Pakistan bombs innocent
tribal people due to the pressure of America... Drone
strikes conducted by Americans were [backed] by
Pakistan. Then the Americans pressed Pakistan to start
ground operations in these areas, and Pakistan
complied.
"So the government is responsible for past failures."
Mehsud has a $5m FBI bounty on his head and is
thought to be responsible for the deaths of thousands
of people.
But in the interview he denied carrying out recent
deadly attacks in public places.
He said: "We consider the safety of Muslims, of
scholars, of mosques and madrassas as our sacred
duty.
"As for explosions which cause damage to the life and
property of Muslims, we have denied any link the past,
we deny any link today."
Mehsud added: "We have targeted those who are with
the infidels, America, and we will continue to target
them."
Mehsud denied responsibility for recent deadly public
bombings
When asked again whether there would be any
conditions for talks, Mehsud said he would not discuss
this in the media.
However, when asked about the withdrawal of US-led
troops from Afghanistan at the end of next year, he
said: "America is one of the two reasons we have to
conduct a jihad against Pakistan. The other reason is
that Pakistan's system is un-Islamic, and we want it
replaced with an Islamic system.
"This demand and this desire will continue even after
the American withdrawal."
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that
whether it is the imminent withdrawal of coalition
troops from Afghanistan or the Pakistani government's
moves to open dialogue, there is an impression that the
militants of this region feel that they have the upper
hand.
It is clear that Hakimullah Mehsud believes he can now
call the shots, he says.
As far as denying bomb attacks, our correspondent says
that either the Taliban did carry them out or Mehsud is
not in control of the militants - so in either case the
question is, why bother talking to him?
After Mr Sharif's announcement that the government
would open unconditional talks with the militants, the
Taliban issued a list of demands, including the
imposition of Sharia (Islamic law).
Attacks on the security forces have continued,
prompting army chief Gen Pervez Kayani to warn that
the military would not allow the Taliban to set
conditions for peace.
Violent attacks on public places escalated last month,
with the north-western city of Peshawar the worst hit.
The bombing of a church in September left dozens
dead, while more than 40 were killed a week later in an
attack on a market in the city.
Death claims
Hakimullah Mehsud came to prominence in 2007 as a
commander under then Taliban leader Baitullah
Mehsud, with the capture of 300 Pakistani soldiers
adding to his prestige among the militants. He led a
campaign of attrition against the Pakistani army and
Nato convoys heading to Afghanistan.
After Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike
in August 2009, Hakimullah was appointed leader.
Several claims of his death made by US and Pakistani
intelligence sources have proven untrue.
There remains great suspicion among Western powers
that any peace moves with the Taliban simply give the
militants more time to regroup.
Pakistan's interior and foreign ministry were contacted
about Hakimullah's interview but declined to comment.
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