MINGORA, Pakistan, Feb 24 (Reuters): Pakistani Taliban militants announced an indefinite ceasefire in the Swat valley in the northwest of the country Tuesday, a day after the army said it was ceasing operations in the region.
The ceasefire, following an agreement by the authorities on the enforcement of Islamic sharia law in the valley, is likely to compound concerns among Western countries, which fear a truce will create another militant sanctuary in Pakistan.
Militants in Swat, which until 2007 was one of Pakistan's prime tourist destinations, had already announced a 10-day truce after a radical cleric, Maulana Sufi Mohammad, struck a deal with authorities on the enforcement of sharia law.
That temporary truce has been made permanent, said a Taliban spokesman in the valley, 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Islamabad.
"We have agreed on an indefinite ceasefire," said the spokesman, Muslim Khan.
Khan said the Taliban in the valley, led by Sufi Mohammad's militant son-in-law, Fazlullah, also decided to release three people, including two politicians, as a "goodwill gesture."
The militants had virtually taken over control of the entire valley in recent months, residents said, killing their enemies and blowing up schools, which they said the security forces were using as outposts.
The meeting was chaired by Maulana Fazlullah, he said. Khan also said the militants had released three kidnapped security personnel as a "goodwill gesture".
The local Taliban led by Fazlullah had last week called a 10-day unilateral truce to facilitate peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Mohammadi, a group of religious hardliners.
The TNSM is led by Maulana Sufi Mohammad, who is Fazlullah's father-in-law.
Sufi had Monday called on the Taliban to stop all their activities in Swat and to release all prisoners. After the TNSM reached an agreement with Pakistani authorities on enforcing Sharia or Islamic laws in Swat, Mohammad and his aides have been holding talks with Fazlullah and his fighters.
The authorities have also announced a separate truce in Swat and the army has halted its operations against the militants. However, the peace deal has been criticised by Western powers, with some saying it amounts to a capitulation to the Taliban.
