MINGORA, Feb 19: Preliminary talks between the Swat Taliban and emissaries of the banned Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) ended on a positive note on Thursday.

The talks were held at an unspecified place in Matta.

Local Taliban ‘commander’ Mehmood told Dawn: “Today’s talks ended on a positive note and the people of Swat will hear good news tomorrow or in a couple of days.”

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said: “The two sides held two rounds of talks and discussed the peace accord between the TNSM and the NWFP government and restoration of peace.

“We also discussed our previous strained relations.”

He said both sides were working on a strategy to restore peace and pave the way for providing speedy justice to people after the TNSM and the provincial government had agreed on enforcing ‘Nizam-i-Adl’.

According to sources, two sessions of talks were held on Thursday but no breakthrough was achieved.

They said the Taliban team left after the talks to brief their leader Maulana Fazlullah.

The negotiations will resume on Friday.

The final round of ‘peace talks’ was likely to be attended by TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad and his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah, chief of the Tehrik-i-Taliban in Swat, the sources said.

They said the Taliban had reiterated their five demands, withdrawal of security forces, release of detained militants, payment of Diyat (compensation) to the heir of 1,500 to 2,000 fighters killed, authority to enforce ‘moral values’ (Amr bil Maruf wa Nahee Anil Munkir) and enforcement of Sharia.

The Taliban delegation led by their Matta ‘governor’ Ibne Amin comprised Saifullah, Yasin, Mulla Omar, Omarzada, Sardar, Yusuf, Lalzada, Khug Bacha and Hussain Shah. The TNSM team was led by its Swat chief Mohammad Iqbal.

Maulana Sufi has held peace marches with a large number of supporters in different areas of Swat, including Matta, Khwazakhela and Charbagh, considered to be strongholds of Taliban.