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| July 02, 2006 | Sunday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 5, 1427 |
Militants’ ceasefire call welcomed
MIRAMSHAH, July 1: Officials and residents have welcomed militants’ call for a month-long ceasefire in the volatile tribal region.
“Local Taliban supporters, after talks with elders in North Waziristan, announced a one-month ceasefire and we welcome it,” Shah Zaman, spokesman for the government authority in North Waziristan, told The Associated Press.
Area militants took up arms in 2002 against security forces deployed in the region to prevent Taliban insurgents fleeing from the US-led invasion in Afghanistan.
Many tribesmen align themselves with Afghanistan’s toppled Taliban regime and share the same Pakhtun tribal links.
On Thursday, armed tribesmen distributed fliers in North and neighbouring South Waziristan spelling out the truce deal and urging tribal and religious leaders to promote positive dialogue between the government and militants.
Mr Zaman said tribal elders were helping officials in talks with pro-Taliban tribesmen, but he refused to elaborate.
“I can only say that the peace process is progressing well,” he said.—AP
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