Pakistani military and Al Qaeda-linked fighters have agreed to a 10-day truce to give chance to their tribal allies to negotiate a peaceful solution, a local administrator said. "The request for a ceasefire by the Mahsud tribe in South Waziristan area has been accepted to give the political process a chance," local administration chief Ismatullah Gandapur said. "The security forces will retaliate only if they are attacked."
| Getting kinda close to the head cheeses, were they? |
The Mahsud tribe dominates South Waziristan's troubled towns of Kanigarram, Sarvakai, Makin and Laddah, scenes of daily clashes between Pakistani forces and fighters in recent months. The ceasefire, which came into force late Monday, was negotiated by a 19-member mediating team of tribal elders and religious scholars from the region, Gandapur said. Another top member of the government negotiating team said that tribesmen had promised not to attack the army or the paramilitary forces deployed in the area.
| That should give them time to move Ayman to a safer spot, maybe in North Waziristan, and to bring up more ammunition... |
"Efforts are also being so the cease-fire, if it is not broken in 10 days, can be extended in the month of Ramadan and in the meantime we will continue to persuade the tribesmen to surrender militants," said the member, on condition of anonymity. |