Pakistan: Taliban violate deal in Swat
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 04, 2009 00:00
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's military yesterday accused the Taliban of "gross violation" of a peace accord covering a large segment of its northwest after several acts of violence over the weekend.
The allegations came as the northwest province's government said it was fulfilling its end of the deal by establishing an Islamic appellate court for the area, though a cleric mediating the pact rejected the panel.
The developments underscored the ambivalence in Pakistan's government over how best to tackle militancy in its regions bordering Afghanistan. It is a topic that will come up when Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari meets with President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Washington later this week.
Under the peace deal struck in February, the government agreed to impose Islamic law in the Swat Valley and surrounding areas that make up the Malakand Division. The pact appeared to embolden the Taliban in Swat, who soon entered the adjacent Buner district.
Critics including the U.S. have cast the peace deal as a surrender. It is of particular concern to American officials, who worry Swat will turn into a haven for militants near Afghanistan, where U.S. and NATO troops are battling an increasingly virulent insurgency.
Over the past week, the Pakistani military has gone on the offensive to push the Taliban out of Buner, just 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Islamabad. An army statement said yesterday 80 militants had been killed so far along with three soldiers. Despite the strains on the cease-fire negotiated as part of the peace pact, the North West Frontier Province government insists it is not abandoning dialogue. Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the province's information minister, said Saturday that the formation of the Islamic appellate court meant the government was close to fulfilling its obligations. He said two judges have been appointed to the panel, with more to be named later.
The developments underscored the ambivalence in Pakistan's government over how best to tackle militancy in its regions bordering Afghanistan. It is a topic that will come up when Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari meets with President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Washington later this week.
Under the peace deal struck in February, the government agreed to impose Islamic law in the Swat Valley and surrounding areas that make up the Malakand Division. The pact appeared to embolden the Taliban in Swat, who soon entered the adjacent Buner district.
Critics including the U.S. have cast the peace deal as a surrender. It is of particular concern to American officials, who worry Swat will turn into a haven for militants near Afghanistan, where U.S. and NATO troops are battling an increasingly virulent insurgency.
Over the past week, the Pakistani military has gone on the offensive to push the Taliban out of Buner, just 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Islamabad. An army statement said yesterday 80 militants had been killed so far along with three soldiers. Despite the strains on the cease-fire negotiated as part of the peace pact, the North West Frontier Province government insists it is not abandoning dialogue. Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the province's information minister, said Saturday that the formation of the Islamic appellate court meant the government was close to fulfilling its obligations. He said two judges have been appointed to the panel, with more to be named later.