By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The provincial government in northwestern Pakistan and local Taliban on Wednesday reached a peace agreement, under which Taliban will stop suicide attacks and the army will be gradually withdrawn from the Swat valley, local media said.
Under the 15-point deal, the local Taliban will give up militancy and will accept the writ of the federal and provincial governments in return for implementation of Shariah law, or Islamic law, in some area, the News Network International (NNI) news agency said.
Bashir Ahmed Bilor, an official from North West Frontier Province (NWFP), told a press conference in NWFP’s capital Peshawar that Shariah court will be set up in Swat and the adjoining Malakand area of the NWFP.
Bilor led the delegation in the negotiations.
He said Taliban will end militancy and expel foreign militants from the area and those foreigners who will not obey the agreement will be handed over to the government.
Maulana Fazlullah, who is now leading a militant organization in Swat valley, once claimed that they would not lay down arms until the government would enforce Shariah law.
Swat used to be a scenic spot for tourists from around the world.
The new Pakistani government, since its formation in March, has pledged to hold talks with the militants who will renounce violence and lay down their arms.