July 17, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 13, 1429

MINGORA, July 16: The government has accused the Taliban of violating the Swat peace agreement by kidnapping law-enforcement personnel and running militant training centres.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the district coordination officer and local police chief said Taliban had kidnapped Hawaldar Nezar Ali and constable Zer Qias and demanded release of 10 militants in return for their freedom. The officials said the Taliban had not raised the issue of release of the militants during earlier negotiations.

“Taliban should respect the peace deal and free the personnel immediately,” they said, adding that the government had already released 19 militants unconditionally.

The officials said the Taliban did not attend a scheduled meeting of the joint implementation committee for the accord on Wednesday.

“Training centres for subversive activities at eight locations in Swat district, including Baila Gut, Malam Jaba, Zora, Dadhara, and Peochar, are still operating and activities at these hideouts have increased in violation of the agreement,” they said.

The officials said the Taliban had renounced militancy and accepted the writ of the government. They had promised not to run a parallel administration or display weapons in the valley.

Despite the agreement, there have been seven attacks on police and five on the army; 10 officials have been killed and three police posts, 15 schools and five private buildings, including a motel in Malam Jaba, have been set on fire since May 21. They also said Taliban’s FM radio station was being used from time to time to criticise government’s policies in violation of the accord.