DHAKA: Syed Wali desperately wants to immunise his three young children against polio but fears the Islamic militants who banned the vaccine from this remote area in northwest Pakistan will catch him if he tries to smuggle it in.

‘I can afford to bring the vaccine for my children, but what answer will I give the Taliban if they recover the vaccine bag from my possession?’ Wali asked, reports The Straits Times.

Wali’s fears are shared by many in the North Waziristan tribal area as health authorities recently confirmed five new polio cases there and suspect there are many more.

It’s one of a series of outbreaks this year in parts of the country where security threats have kept out vaccination teams.

BDST: 1420 HRS, SEPT 02, 2013
RoR/BSK