Waziristan peace deal scrapped by militants
MIRAMSHAH, July 15: The local Taliban on Sunday announced scrapping a peace deal they had reached with the government in September last year, warning Khasadar and Levies personnel against performing duties with the military and paramilitary forces in the restive North Waziristan.
A Taliban shura statement released here accused the government of derailing the peace process in the region.
The government and militants had on September 5, 2006 signed the controversial accord to restore peace in the North Waziristan Agency.
The statement said: Taliban had signed the agreement with the government to ensure safety of the life and property of the people. Now, we have decided to scrap the deal for the sake of people.
It said that despite the accord, the Taliban had come under attacks in the agency. The first attack was launched in Saidgai on April 27, second in Dwa Tui on April 29, third in Peryat on May 5 and a fourth in Gudai Waila on June 19. But, the Taliban did not do away with the agreement, it added.
The statement said that under the agreement the government had to pay compensation to the affected families, but it was yet to be paid.
Moreover, the government had deployed troops at the checkpoints which multiplied difficulties of the local people. Therefore, the Taliban were withdrawing from the deal, it said.
Following the peace deal, the government had withdrawn army and paramilitary troops from check posts in the troubled region and returned to the militants the weapons seized by security forces during operations.
In return, the Taliban and tribesmen had agreed to expel foreigners from the area and halt infiltration of militants to Afghanistan. The Taliban had also promised not to set up a parallel administration in the area and would stop attacks on the security forces.
But after a spate of attacks on the security forces, the government last week deployed the army and paramilitary forces at check posts which had apparently irritated the Taliban.
As a post-script to the statement, the Taliban warned the Khasadar and Levies personnel against taking part in any official duty with the army and paramilitary forces, otherwise they would be held responsible for the consequences. It also asked the maliks and tribal elders not to hold jirga with the government.Miramshah and its surrounding areas remained calm but tense because of the growing tension between the government and militants.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/16/top2.htm
