Pak Taliban chief says open to ceasefire if govt. stops drone strikes

Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has said he is open to peace talks with the government, if Islamabad stops the drone strikes.

Mehsud controls more than 30 militant groups in the tribal areas spread over the north-west Pakistan and have killed thousands of people in several suicide bombings in its war against the state in recent years.

In an interview with the BBC, Mehsud denied carrying out recent deadly attacks in public places, but said he would continue to target America and its friends who are killing its leaders and innocent people in deadly air strikes.

He said he is ready for ceasefire, but he has not been approached yet by the government for the negotiations.

The second-in-command of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Waliur Rehman, was killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike in May, the re[port added.

Mehsud's himself has survived a missile strike by a remotely-piloted U.S. aircraft.