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The government agreed to gradually withdraw its troops from the area. (Reuters) |
PESHAWAR — The government signed on Wednesday, May 21, an agreement with local militants to bring peace and allow the implementation of Shari`ah in the restive northwestern valley of Swat.
"We hope this agreement will help bring peace in Swat," Bashir Ahmed Bilour, senior provincial minister, told reporters after signing the 15-point agreement.
It stipulates the gradual withdrawal of troops from Swat and the application of Shari`ah as demanded by the Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammedi of charismatic Maulana Fazlullah.
The militants, for their parts, will close training camps, hand over foreign fighters and halt suicide attacks on government installations and security forces.
They also vowed not to target girls' schools, music shops and barbers.
The army had unleashed a major offensive in October to clear Swat of Fazlullah armed supporters.
Scores of people have been killed in suicide bombings in Swat since last July after troops raided Islamabad's Red Mosque, leaving scores dead.
Army troops fought weeks-long battles with militants in the northern district of Swat months back.
Fazlullah has been using a clandestine FM radio station to preach war against the government, earning him the nickname Mullah Radio.
The army has been hunting for him in the region's forests and mountains for months.
Swat had been the main tourist destination in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (NWFP) until last year.
It is around 350 kilometers (220 miles) from South Waziristan, another restive tribal area and a stronghold of local Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.
No Talks
The Swat deal came a day after the US asked the Pakistan government not to negotiate with militants.
"Are we concerned about the possibility of negotiations between the government or elements of the government and these extremist groups up there…yes," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told Congress.
"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."
Negroponte asked Islamabad to hunt down Baitullah Mehsud, blamed by the CIA for the assassination of former ex-premier Benazir Bhutto last December.
The new government of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has vowed to talk to militants to bring peace to the restive tribal areas.
The authorities are separately negotiating with Mehsud through tribal elders to strike a peace deal with him.
The US has always been critical of past peace deals between Islamabad and militants, arguing they give militants a chance to regroup and intensify attacks on foreign forces in Afghanistan.
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