By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani government and militants on Wednesday started swap of each others’ prisoners in the restive South Waziristan tribal area as part of an expected peace deal, local TV channels reported.
The army spokesman said that the army has relocated their positions in Waziristan but denied withdrawal or reduction of troops, according to Geo television.
Tribal elders had been mediating for a peace deal between the two sides and as a first step both sides started release of prisoners.
Troops’ withdrawal has been the major demand from the Pakistani Taliban, and the army spokesman acknowledged that in order to facilitate the return of displaced persons, the military had decided to readjust present positions and open various roads linking different villages and townships.
The spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that the troops were relocated away from the civilian population.
Information from the areas suggest that up-to 30 suspected militants had been airlifted from detention centers to Jandola, a main town in South Waziristan on Tuesday, for the release.