By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan government and the local Taliban in the Mohmand Agency are close to striking a peace accord, media reports here Tuesday indicated.
A jirga of tribal elders, after a meeting with Taliban representatives in the Safi area of the Agency, said the Taliban had agreed not to attack government officials in the area. The Taliban assured government employees that they could perform their duties without fear, the Dawn English daily reported.
The softening of stance of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban is seen here as a step towards peace in the troubled northern area of Pakistan.
The Taliban, however, said the ban on non-government organisations working in the area would continue as “they spread obscenity which can not be tolerated”, reported Dawn.
In a major climbdown, the Islamic fundamentalists have also agreed to allow female education.
Leader of the 10-member Jirga Abdul Manan Kodakhel said the Taliban had agreed to allow opening of girls’ schools provided their teachers wore the veil, the Daily Times reported.
Later, a group of tribal elders met Amjad Ali Khan, the political agent of the Mohmand Agency, and apprised him of the outcome of talks with the Taliban.