Govt, N. Waziristan Taliban enter Peace Agreement
'Pakistan Times' NWFP Bureau

MIRANSHAH: North Waziristan Grand Peace Jirga has formally announced the peace agreement arrived at between the government and the local Taliban here, which followed pulling out of the security forces check posts from different areas of the Agency.

The members of the Grand Peace Jirga, government officials, tribal elders and local Taliban were also present in the Jirga held here at the Degree College premises.

The decisions taken by the Jirga make it obligatory for the North Waziristan tribal elders, local mujahideens and ulema to ensure ceasing all sorts of attacks on the security forces and government assets, the governance would rest with the Pakistan government only, political administration would be approached for the resolution of all problems and the issues would be resolved under the tribal traditions and FCR.

The Jirga decided that there would be no to and fro crossing on the border for militant action in Afghanistan, all North Waziristan aliens would leave Pakistan and those opting to stay would remain peaceful and respect the law, while the government property, vehicles, wireless sets etc. taken into custody during the skirmishes would be returned to the tribal government.

The Grand Jirga has also decided about some government obligations, which included that the government would free all the persons arrested during the operations and they would not be re-arrested on the basis of past incidents, all the national privileges would be restored and the check posts set up on the roads would be wrapped up, while Khasadar and levies would be posted on the old check posts.

Under the agreement, land and air operation would be stopped and the problems would be resolved in the light of the traditions. The government would pay compensations for the losses incurred during the operation.

Under the tribal tradition, there was no ban on arms and neither the government would be imposing such a ban, but the heavy weapons would remain proscribed.

The implementation of the agreement would commence with the pulling out of the troops from the check posts to the military camps.

Under the agreement, a ten-member committee has also been set up which included ulema, mushiran and members of political administration.

This committee would be reviewing implementation of the agreement besides taking action on the violation, if any.●