Pakistani Taliban hints at attacking foreign aid workers

MIR ALI, Pakistan - The Taliban hinted yesterday they may launch attacks against foreigners helping Pakistan respond to the worst floods in the country's history, saying their presence was "unacceptable." The United Nations said it would not be deterred by violent threats.

The militant group has attacked aid workers in the country before, and an outbreak of violence could complicate a relief effort that has already struggled to reach the 8 million people who are in need of emergency assistance.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq claimed the United States and other countries that have pledged support are not really focused on providing aid to flood victims but had other motives he did not specify.

"Behind the scenes they have certain intentions, but on the face they are talking of relief and help," Tariq told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location. "No relief is reaching the affected people, and when the victims are not receiving help, then this horde of foreigners is not acceptable to us at all."

He strongly hinted that the militants could resort to violence, saying "when we say something is unacceptable to us, one can draw one's own conclusion." UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said in New York the UN remained committed to helping flood victims in Pakistan.

Holmes noted that the Pakistani Taliban carried out a suicide attack against the office of the UN's World Food Program in Islamabad last October, killing five staffers, and in March, militants attacked the offices of World Vision, a U.S.-based Christian aid group helping earthquake survivors in northwestern Pakistan, killing six Pakistani employees.

He said UN security experts will be working with UN agencies and international organizations "to assess what the risks are and to minimize them." U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Washington is also taking the threat of attacks by militants seriously.

"We have information of the potential targeting of foreign relief workers in Pakistan, as well as government ministries," Crowley told reporters in Washington, adding, "It just underscores the bankrupt vision that these extremists have and we are conscious of that threat."