MINGORA, Feb 20: The Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) has claimed a breakthrough in talks with the Swat Taliban amid reports that militants are likely to extend the 10-day ceasefire they announced on Monday.

TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat Khan said the group’s chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad met local Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, his son-in-law, at an unspecified place. He said the talks were fruitful and negotiations would continue.

“We will give good news to people of Swat soon,” he told Dawn, adding that peace would be restored.

“We have conveyed to them that ‘Sharia law’ has been put into effect and there was no need for any more resistance,” he said.

Sufi Mohammad, meanwhile, continued his peace march and visited militants’ strongholds with thousands of his supporters wearing black turbans. People carrying the group’s black and white banners marched in different areas of Matta subdivision.

Thousands of people received the TNSM leader and raised slogans calling for peace.

The TNSM spokesman said he was optimistic the Taliban would extend ceasefire. The militants announced the 10-day ceasefire after Sufi Mohammad had signed a peace agreement with the NWFP government in Peshawar.

According to sources, the TNSM chief has decided to stay in Deulai area of Kabal subdivision till the restoration of peace.

Normality is returning to Mingora and other parts of Swat.