Islamabad, Tribes Sign New Peace Deal

"This peace deal too will yield positive results in line with the North Waziristan peace accord," said Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai, Governor of the North Western Frontier province (NWFP).

"The impact of this deal will be substantial as the tribal elders have assured the government that they will not support any subversive activity in the area," he believes.

The agreement calls on pro-Taliban tribesmen to expel foreign militants and not to provide them any kind of support or shelter in future.

Under the deal, if any tribesman is found guilty of harboring or assisting foreign militants his house would be razed and he would be fined.

The tribesmen should "ensure" that they will not set up any "parallel administration" in the region, meddle in neighboring districts, or allow "for any kind of militancy" to cross the border with Afghanistan.

The agreement guarantees that trade, business, and meeting with family across the border would continue "in accordance with the traditions and the prevailing laws."

The government has promised in return to accelerate development work in their areas.

Tribesmen arrested by security forces during last several months will also be released gradually.

The deal, signed during a grand jirga attended by tribesmen, elders, scholars, MPs and local officials, was supposed to be signed last November but the killing of 82 people in bombing of a madrasah in Bajur on October 30 delayed the plans.

More
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1173695394828&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout