NEW YORK, Sept 17: Military spokesman Major-Gen Shaukat Sultan has said that chances of the peace deal in North Waziristan succeeding would be better if the Afghan government were also to emulate it.

Talking to Pakistani journalists at the Media Centre here on Saturday night, he did not rule out the possibility of a similar peace deal with moderate elements in South Waziristan. He claimed that the international reaction to the deal had largely been positive and seen as the way forward. In this context, he specifically mentioned the US, Britain and Afghanistan.

Responding to a question, he said the peace deal with tribal elders in North Waziristan could serve as a role model for Afghanistan and agreed that chances of its success would be more if emulated by Afghanistan. Answering another question, he underlined the need to dispel the impression that all Pushtoons were Taliban.—QA