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Pakistan 'Taleban' in peace deal Pakistan 'Taleban' in peace deal
(about 3 hours later)
Pakistan has signed a deal with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border aimed at ending years of unrest.Pakistan has signed a deal with pro-Taleban militants on the Afghan border aimed at ending years of unrest.
The North Waziristan accord calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence.The North Waziristan accord calls on tribesmen to expel foreign militants and end cross-border attacks in return for a reduced military presence.
Tens of thousands of Pakistani forces are fighting foreign Islamic militants and their local supporters in the country's restive tribal belt.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.Hundreds of people have been killed in violence in North Waziristan this year.
Except for trade, people will not be allowed to go to Afghanistan to launch attacks Local MP Haji Nek Zaman Nato mission under pressure Musharraf's 'crisis'
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says some observers believe the deal offers the government an exit from a military strategy that has largely failed.
Dozens of soldiers have been killed in North Waziristan over the past year and local support for the Taleban seems to have increased rather than decreased, she says.
'Strategy failed''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.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. href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/4751499.stm" class="">Taleban stronghold
Local militants in turn have pledged not to harbour foreign militants, launch cross-border raids or attack Pakistani government troops or facilities. Senior army officers and militants hugged and congratulated each other after signing the agreement at a college football ground in Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region.
BBC correspondents say meeting these conditions could be difficult, as the Taleban has support on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border. Details of the deal signed by the two sides were given in a brief speech by local MP Haji Nek Zaman, a member of the council of elders which was authorised to negotiate on behalf of the Pakistani government.
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. Under the accord, the Pakistani military promises to end major operations in the area.
In June, the authorities in North Waziristan freed more than 50 tribesmen as an apparent goodwill gesture to pro-Taleban militants. It will pull most of its soldiers back to military camps, but will still operate border check-points.
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. Over the summer the military met other conditions, releasing a number of tribesmen in an apparent goodwill gesture to the militants and withdrawing soldiers from new check-posts.
Tribal elders held weeks of consultationsLocal Taleban supporters, in turn, have pledged not to harbour foreign militants, launch cross-border raids or attack Pakistani government troops or facilities.
Observers say meeting these conditions could be difficult, as the Taleban has support on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border.
Mr Zaman said there would also be an end to "targeted killings" of suspected informers, or tribal elders who work with the authorities.
The agreement comes ahead of a visit by President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to Afghanistan which is expected to take place later this week.
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have been strained in recent months because of differences in tackling what both refer to as cross-border terrorism.