Pakistanis in Miran Shah, near the Afghan border, on Sunday at funerals of people described as victims of a United States missile attack on a Taliban compound. Hasbanullah Khan/Associated PressFrom The New York Times:
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The government announced Monday that it would accept a system of Islamic law in the Swat valley and agreed to a truce, effectively conceding the area as a Taliban sanctuary and suspending a faltering effort by the army to crush the insurgents.
The concessions to the militants, who now control about 70 percent of the region just 100 miles from the capital, were criticized by Pakistani analysts as a capitulation by a government desperate to stop Taliban abuses and a military embarrassed at losing ground after more than a year of intermittent fighting. About 3,000 Taliban militants have kept 12,000 government troops at bay and terrorized the local population with floggings and the burning of schools.
The accord came less than a week before the first official visit to Washington of the Pakistani army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, to meet Obama administration officials and discuss how Pakistan could improve its tactics against what the American military is now calling an industrial-strength insurgency there of Al Qaeda and the Taliban militants.
The militants have also made deep gains in neighboring Afghanistan, where the United States is sending more troops.
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More News On The Pakistan's Governments Surrender To The Taliban
NATO says Pakistan deal with militants a concern -- Reuters
Pakistani militants talk peace amid criticism -- AP
Pakistan takes risk letting Islamists have their law -- Reuters
Pakistan denies 'concession' in deal with militants -- AFP
Islamic Law Instituted in Pakistan's Swat Valley -- Washington Post
Pakistan Agrees to Islamic Law in Tribal Area -- Voice of America
Pakistan Accepts Islamic Law in Swat Valley -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan Agrees Sharia Law Deal -- BBC News
Terms of truce in Pakistan could raise flag in Washington -- Chicago Tribune
Peace deal in Swat Valley raises concerns -- San Francisco Chronicle
Clinton Says Extremists Pose ‘Direct Threat’ to Pakistan, U.S. -- Bloomberg
Will Pakistan's Shari'a Pact Calm or Inflame a Troubled Reg
Pakistani militants talk peace amid criticism -- AP
Pakistan takes risk letting Islamists have their law -- Reuters
Pakistan denies 'concession' in deal with militants -- AFP
Islamic Law Instituted in Pakistan's Swat Valley -- Washington Post
Pakistan Agrees to Islamic Law in Tribal Area -- Voice of America
Pakistan Accepts Islamic Law in Swat Valley -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan Agrees Sharia Law Deal -- BBC News
Terms of truce in Pakistan could raise flag in Washington -- Chicago Tribune
Peace deal in Swat Valley raises concerns -- San Francisco Chronicle
Clinton Says Extremists Pose ‘Direct Threat’ to Pakistan, U.S. -- Bloomberg
Will Pakistan's Shari'a Pact Calm or Inflame a Troubled Region? -- Time Magazine
My Comment: When I look at islamic history, it is clear that Islamic extremists have never stopped using war as their tactic to spread their militancy. The Pakistan Government's agreement with the Taliban will also not stop this war.
The Taliban now have their safe haven, and they are now only 100 miles away from the capital. They are going to reassert their positions in the province, and I expect a resumption of fighting this summer.
The Pakistani Government has pursued peace in the hope of avoiding war .... their actions have all but assured that war will now be the final result.
Pakistan takes risk letting Islamists have their law -- Reuters
Pakistan denies 'concession' in deal with militants -- AFP
Islamic Law Instituted in Pakistan's Swat Valley -- Washington Post
Pakistan Agrees to Islamic Law in Tribal Area -- Voice of America
Pakistan Accepts Islamic Law in Swat Valley -- Christian Science Monitor
Pakistan Agrees Sharia Law Deal -- BBC News
Terms of truce in Pakistan could raise flag in Washington -- Chicago Tribune
Peace deal in Swat Valley raises concerns -- San Francisco Chronicle
Clinton Says Extremists Pose ‘Direct Threat’ to Pakistan, U.S. -- Bloomberg
Will Pakistan's Shari'a Pact Calm or Inflame a Troubled Region? -- Time Magazine
My Comment: When I look at islamic history, it is clear that Islamic extremists have never stopped using war as their tactic to spread their militancy. The Pakistan Government's agreement with the Taliban will also not stop this war.
The Taliban now have their safe haven, and they are now only 100 miles away from the capital. They are going to reassert their positions in the province, and I expect a resumption of fighting this summer.
The Pakistani Government has pursued peace in the hope of avoiding war .... their actions have all but assured that war will now be the final result.