Pakistan tribe agrees to hand over Taliban
By HABIB KHAN, Associated Press Writer Habib Khan, Associated Press Writer – Tue Mar 10, 10:41 am ET
KHAR, Pakistan – A tribe in a northwestern Pakistani region where the military has fought insurgents has agreed to stop sheltering foreign fighters and hand over local Taliban leaders, authorities said. A tribal elder said some militants could be pardoned and freed.
Meanwhile, security forces claimed to have killed 35 militants Tuesday in fresh fighting in another part of the northwest, which borders Afghanistan.
Pakistan has previously signed such pacts with tribes in its northwest regions, but they tend to unravel and spur Western criticism that they give militants time to regroup or create safe havens for them.
But Monday’s agreement in the Bajur tribal area came after the army said it had defeated insurgents there after six months of fighting, indicating the government was negotiating from a position of strength.
Bajur is a rumored hiding place of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, and the military offensive there earned praise from American officials concerned that militants use Pakistan as a base from which to plan attacks in Afghanistan.
This could be a good news, what do you guys say? Though some militants will be “pardoned” while some will be handed over as well. If they really stick to their words then it could be great news for the stability of Pakistan.