July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

SWAT, July 7: The NWFP government and the Tehrik-i-Taliban agreed on Monday to keep their agreement intact and carry forward the dialogue process for lasting peace in the district.

Sources said that about six hours of talks were held in the Taliban office in Saidu Sharif and the two sides discussed each other’s reservations to some provisions of the May 21 accord and agreed that the dialogue would continue.

Provincial minister Wajid Ali Khan told journalists that the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and both sides put forward positive proposals.

He said the government would enforce Sharia in Swat in three months and Taliban would be given representation in the committee formed for the purpose.

He said the administration would wind up ‘unnecessary’ checkposts and armed patrolling and display of arms would be stopped.

He said the government would release the people associated with Taliban after studying their cases and necessary legal procedure.

He said payment of compensation to the families affected by the operation had commenced on Sunday.

Taliban spokesman Haji Muslim Khan said he was satisfied with the talks.

He said the Taliban would review the recommendations and proposal of the Nifaz-i-Sharia committee. He demanded immediate withdrawal of army from the area and said that 42 detained Taliban should be released. Muslim Khan said that the Taliban would abide by the agreement.

The government was represented in the talks by minister Wajid Ali Khan, MPA Dr Shamsher Ali Khan, RCO Fazal Karim Khattak, Malakand DIG Tanvirul Haq Sipra, Swat DCO Shaukat Ali Yousafzai and DPO Waqif Khan.

The Taliban were represented by Haji Muslim Khan, Nisar Khan, Mehmood Khan, Ali Bakht and Maulana Mohammad Amin.