Pak said it has not scuttled a peace deal with pro-Taliban militants and was negotiating with tribal elders to save it amid fears of a fresh round of violence.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said it has not scuttled a peace deal with pro-Taliban militants and was negotiating with tribal elders to save it, amid fears of a fresh round of violence in the country hit by a spate of suicide attacks.
"Deal with the tribal elders in North Waziristan, as far as government of Pakistan is concerned has not been scuttled by the government. The government remains in dialogue with tribal elders," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told in a media briefing here.
Asked whether it meant the government was still hopeful of making the deal work, Aslam said "the government has not scuttled the deal and the negotiations with the tribal elders are continuing".
Pakistani Taliban on Sunday ended a peace accord with government of Pakistan, accusing it of violating the accord signed in September last year.
Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province Akram Durrani said "authorities will try to save the peace deal with tribal militants and hope they will revise their decision to scrap it".
"The deal is vital for peace in the area, and God forbid, if it is cancelled the consequences will be dangerous," he told reporters after a meeting with tribal elders.
Asked what prompted the government to strike the deal, which was criticised by US and its allies, Aslam said "we believe in a comprehensive strategy to address the problems of the tribal areas.
This included political and economic approach and wherever necessary military action.
"This has been the strategy pursed by the government from the beginning and the government still maintains it".
Asked about the Pakistan-Afghanistan Jirga Commissions, Aslam said the two sides are regularly meeting to make preparations for the Jirga.
Governor of North West Frontier Province today sent a delegation to North Waziristan to hold talks with Taliban to save the accord.
A Taliban shura statement released here accused the government of derailing the peace process in the region.
The government and militants had on September 5, 2006 signed the controversial accord to restore peace in the North Waziristan Agency.
The statement said: "Taliban had signed the agreement with the government to ensure safety of the life and property of the people. Now, we have decided to scrap the deal for the sake of people."
Following the peace deal in last September, the government had withdrawn army and paramilitary troops from check posts in the troubled region and returned to the militants the weapons seized by security forces during operations.
In return, the Taliban and tribesmen had agreed to expel foreigners from the area and halt infiltration of militants to Afghanistan. The Taliban had also promised not to set up a parallel administration in the area and stop attacks on security forces.
But after a spate of attacks on security forces during the past few days, the government has begun deploying the army and paramilitary forces at check posts which had apparently irritated the Taliban.
The Taliban also warned local para military forces against taking part in any official duty with the army. It also asked tribal elders not to horgh the government.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}