Army to remain in Swat:Bilour

PESHAWAR: Leader of the Government negotiating team senior NWFP Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour Thursday said that detained Taliban prisoners in Swat would be released on bail and made it clear that security forces would remain in the district till the situation returns to complete normalcy.A joint committee would determine losses of the affectees of Swat operations while checkposts of the security forces at public places in Swat will be gradually abolished.
Talking to reporters after a marathon meeting with representatives of Swat Taliban here at Civil Officers Mess, Mr. Bilour admitted delay in implementation of the peace accord with Taliban, however, he listed various reasons for it, which he declined to mention.
He told the media that army would be withdrawn from the restive district gradually after total peace was restored there. In response to a question, he said that Taliben representatives have held out a clear assurance today that there differences with NWFP Government have ended and the peace pact would be implemented in letter and spirit.
Mr.Bilour maintained that the government was bound to implement Nifaz e Shariat in Malakand Division within three months of the peace accord. He said in today’s meeting it was also agreed upon to continue the talks process.
Ali Bakht who represented Taliban side in the talks in his brief chat with newsmen argued that delay in release of their prisoners infact had deteriorated the law order situation in Swat district. However he made it clear that Taliban would not give any surety bonds for release
of their detainees and the government has to release them without bail. He reiterated that some elements wanted to fail the peace accord and did not want peace to return to Swat district.
Peace Envoy of NWFP Government Afrasiab Khattak clarified that there was no mention by the federal government regarding operations in settled parts of the province and had there been anything it must be in context of the tribal areas. Maintaining peace and harmony in the province was a provincial subject, he said, adding, only the provincial government could better understand how best peace could be restored in the province.