MINGORA/BUNER: The Taliban who had ventured into Buner from Swat agreed on Thursday to leave the district on Friday.

The assurance was given during a meeting between the Taliban and elders of Buner conveyed led by Malakand Commissioner Syed Mohammad in Saidu Sharif.

While the Taliban agreed to leave Buner on Friday, the tribal elders assured the Taliban that they would be welcome if they came to the town in a peaceful manner and not like guerrillas.

Efforts continued throughout the day on Thursday to end the standoff between a lashkar of Buner tribesmen and Swat’s militants who had occupied some areas in the district.

Members of the Buner peace jirga and prominent cleric Maulana Waliullah Kabalgrami travelled to Mingora for talks with the Malakand commissioner to resolve the issue.

Before leaving for Swat, members of the jrga also held talks with the Taliban in Gokand valley and urged them to stop their activities till their meeting with the Taliban commander in Swat.

However, reports were received that the militants were continuing to strengthen their hold on the areas they had occupied. They also ventured into the village of Batai, not far from the main Pir Baba bazaar, on Thursday.

The four-day clash in the region has forced a large number of people to leave their homes. People, including women and children, were seen moving with their belongings to other areas.