An aide to fugitive Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar warned of ?problems? in Pakistan?s North Waziristan region in case of a violation of a peace pact signed this month, a newspaper reported yesterday. Pro-Taliban militants and the Pakistani government reached a peace deal on Sept 5 under which the militants agreed to stop attacks in the country and across the border in Afghanistan in return for a halt in government?s operations in the region.

?Violation of the terms of agreement in Waziristan would cause problems and destabilize the area,? The News quoted Mullah Dadullah, Taliban?s feared field commander as saying. Critics say Pakistan government has virtually caved in to the militants? demands and the strategy risked creating a safe haven in North Waziristan for Taliban insurgents, who are fighting the government in Afghanistan, and their al Qaeda allies.

Dadullah did not say whether Taliban would launch attacks in Afghanistan from Pakistani territory but said during a visit to Waziristan three month ago he tried to convince Pakistani Taliban that American troops and their allies be targeted instead of Pakistani troops.

Dadullah said the Taliban would launch major attacks in Afghanistan in spring. He claimed that about 500 suicide attackers were at his disposal and ready to launch attacks any time.