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Pakistan 'Taleban' in peace deal | |
(10 minutes later) | |
Pakistan has signed a deal with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border aimed at ending years of unrest. | |
The accord in North Waziristan calls for local supporters to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a lower troop presence. | |
Tens of thousands of Pakistani forces are fighting foreign Islamic militants and their local supporters in the country's restive tribal belt. | |
Hundreds of people have been killed in violence in North Waziristan this year. | |
'Strategy failed' | |
The agreement brokered by a grand council (jirga) of tribal elders is the first of its kind since Pakistani troops went after Taleban and al-Qaeda elements on the Afghan border. | |
Under the accord, the Pakistani military promises to end ground and aerial operations in the area. | |
Local militants in turn have pledged not to harbour foreign militants, launch cross-border raids or attack Pakistani government troops or facilities. | |
BBC correspondents say meeting these conditions could be difficult, as the Taleban has support on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. | |
Observers say the creation of the jirga essentially recognises the power of the militants and is an implicit admission that the government's military strategy has failed. | |
In June, the authorities in North Waziristan freed more than 50 tribesmen as an apparent goodwill gesture to pro-Taleban militants. | |
They have since met two other conditions of the tribesmen, withdrawing the military from new check-posts in North Waziristan and releasing more than 140 tribesmen. |