Date : 25/06/2006
KUN0071 4 GEN 0267 FRANCE /AFP -BLI5
POL-PAKISTAN-TALIBAN-CEASEFIRE
Taliban announce ceasefire for a month in Pakistani tribal region
ISLAMABAD, June 25 (KUNA) - Following rising numbers of attacks on forces
and pro-government tribal elders in recent months, local Taliban militants on
Sunday announced a ceasefire for a month in Pakistani- largely lawless- tribal
agency of North Waziristan.
A purported Taliban spokesman, Abudllah Farhad, talking to BBC Urdu service
from an undisclosed location called for the observance of a ceasefire for a
month if government accepts certain demands.
The Taliban spokesman demanded the government to limit soldiers to forts
and wrap all newly erected checkposts, release all tribesmen arrested during
military operations and revive their business, shops, give them more jobs as
well as pays.
The government hailing the decision termed it a positive development in its
efforts to resolve worsening political crisis in the tribal agency.
President General Pervez Musharraf last month replaced the Governor of
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) for his failure to bring peace in the
restless tribal region and bridge gap between the government and militants.
His newly inducted NWFP Governor, Ali Mohammad Jan Orakzai, to find a
lasting solution to the unrest in the area began with the formation of a grand
tribal Jirga (meeting).
Orakzai talking to newsmen said that army will stay in the area until peace
is restored. However, he added, development of the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (FATA) through monitoring would continue to be his top
priorities. (end)
amn.ajs
KUNA 251911 Jun 06NNNN