Taliban extend cease-fire in Pakistani valley

[unhappycamper]

Pakistani army troops patrol on a road in Mingora, the main town of the Swat Valley on Feb. 24. Taliban militants extended a cease-fire in northwestern Pakistan's Swat valley, granting more time for peace talks with the government that the U.S. worries could create a haven for insurgents in the nuclear-armed country.


Taliban extend cease-fire in Pakistani valley
By Chris Brummitt - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 24, 2009 14:31:13 EST

ISLAMABAD — Taliban militants in Pakistan’s Swat valley extended a cease-fire Tuesday, strengthening a peace process that Western governments say risks granting a safe haven to extremists close to the Afghan border.

Nevertheless, it remained unclear whether the militants would agree to a government offer to impose a version of Islamic law in the northwestern region in exchange for giving up their weapons.

Islamabad has dispatched an Islamist cleric with ties to the insurgency to negotiate with militants in the valley, though neither side has given many details on how the talks are going or when a formal agreement is expected.

Troops and insurgents have observed a truce in Swat since Feb. 15 when Islamabad initiated the peace process.

Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said the cease-fire had been extended “for an indefinite period” and that he expected the military to also abide by the truce.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_taliban_pakistan_swat_022409/%2e