World | Pakistan
Government inks peace pact with militants in Swat
The government yesterday promised to "gradually" pull out troops from the Swat valley after signing a peace agreement with Taliban militants.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:08 May 22, 2008
Peshawar: The government yesterday promised to "gradually" pull out troops from the Swat valley after signing a peace agreement with Taliban militants.
The deal came a day after the United States advised Islamabad against negotiating with militants, saying it could give them breathing space to plot attacks in Pakistan and abroad.
Authorities in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) also agreed to enforce Sharia law in Swat in return for assurances that militants led by charismatic cleric Fazlullah will cease attacks, allow girls to go to school and stop carrying weapons in public.
Taliban satisfied
"We hope this agreement will help bring peace in Swat," Bashir Ahmad Bilour, senior provincial minister, told reporters after signing the 15-point pact.
Ali Bakhsh, the militants' representative in the talks, said he was fully satisfied with the agreement.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte had voiced the US government's misgivings before a congressional hearing on Tuesday: "Are we concerned about the possibility of negotiations between the government or elements of the government and these extremist groups up there... Yes... I hope that they proceed cautiously and not accept an outcome that would give extremist elements the right, or the ability, to use the FATA area with impunity to carry out attacks on Pakistan, and carry out attacks on Afghanistan or the United States or the rest of the world," he said, referring to the tribal areas commonly known as "Federally Administered Tribal Areas".
Swat, a predominantly tribal area, though not a part of FATA, had been the main tourist destination in NWFP until last year, when the militants launched a violent campaign to enforce Taliban-style law in the region.
Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting between the security forces and the militants.
Fazlullah had set up illegal FM radio stations in the region to propagate his teachings.
Bilour said militants had agreed that they would not run these radio stations without permission from authorities.
The government also agreed to review the criminal cases filed against Fazlullah and other militants, he added.
Fazlullah is an ally of Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban and has links to the Al Qaida. Authorities are separately negotiating with Mehsud through tribal elders to strike a peace deal with him.
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