Maulvi Omar said that Tehrik’s chief, Baitullah Mehsud, held consultations with key Taliban commanders and they agreed that the only way to effectively counter the government’s plans was to launch massive terror attacks.

Suicide attacks involving minors are set for Peshawar, Mardan, Dir and other sensitive districts.

The spokesman said Taliban had set up modern anti-aircraft and missile systems at their checkpoints along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to avert any threat of incursion into fundamentalist areas by NATO and the Afghan National Army.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan also warned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain to “immediately end his kingdom in Karachi”, saying the time was ripe for the Taliban to gain control of the city.

“This is a final warning for Altaf Hussain to cease his statements against the Taliban and end his kingdom in Karachi, otherwise we will launch attacks against the MQM,” the Taliban warned.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders did not wait long to respond, accusing the Taliban of plotting to “spread ethnic and sectarian violence” with a variety of weapons, adding that it was prepared to counter the enemy threat.

The Movement’s leaders called on the government to act against the “Talibanisation” of the North-West Frontier Province and find out who is supplying the Taliban with weapons and funds.