Graffiti about the Taliban's move has already appeared on walls in Islamabad, forcing the administration to whitewash these messages. Many religious scholars in Islamabad have been warned by the Taliban that they have only two options ¿ to support the militants or leave the city, The News daily reported.

If the clerics fail to choose, they will be considered collaborators of the “pro-American Zardari government” which, the Taliban claim, is not different from the regime of former President Pervez Musharraf, it said.

The Taliban from Swat and Bajaur tribal region, where the military is conducting operations against militants, have included some religious and jehadi leaders, “who are not ready to fight inside Pakistan against their own countrymen”, in their hit lists.

The Taliban have also accused some militant leaders from the tribal areas and some leaders of the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, Harkatul Mujahideen and Hizbul Mujahideen of trying to stop youngsters from fighting Pakistani forces. They have declared these “pro-Pakistan” jehadis as their enemies.

Maulvi Nazir from South Waziristan, Hafiz Gul Bahadur from North Waziristan, LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Maulana Farooq Kashmiri and United Jehad Council chief Syed Salahuddin have reportedly been included in the hit list of the Taliban.

The Taliban have threatened certain Hizbul Mujahideen leaders in Swat and Dir to leave the area as soon as possible.

Maulvi Omar Khalid, a Taliban leader in Mohmand tribal region, has reportedly threatened LeT militants to leave the area or face death.

Khalid claimed these militants are only interested in fighting against foreign troops in Afghanistan or against India, and thus do not “want an Islamic government in Pakistan”.

The government has had to take some steps against the Taliban in Darra Adam Khel and Swat, who recently killed a Polish engineer in retaliation for operations against them.

The News quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Pakistan was ready to release some arrested Taliban militants in exchange for abducted Polish and Chinese engineers but the US raised objections and a deal could not be finalised.