The governor of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province has confirmed that Pakistan's federal government signed a peace agreement with about 300 tribal leaders in North Waziristan in January. The agreement, which has not been officially acknowledged before, is one of several controversial deals that have been blamed for worsening violence in neighboring Afghanistan. North Waziristan has long served as a hub for several Taliban militant groups as well as al-Qaida fighters. In 2007, the tribal agency was the scene of fierce battles between militant groups and Pakistani security forces. But since January this year, North Waziristan has experienced relatively few clashes with Pakistani troops - leading to rumors that the government had signed a peace agreement.
Northwest Frontier Province Governor Owais Ghani is the top administrator of the adjoining tribal agencies. He confirmed to VOA the government signed a peace deal in North Waziristan on January 17th - and he says it is the only such deal the federal government has signed so far. "The only agency where we have signed an agreement is in the North Waziristan agency, where over 300 tribal elders have signed," said Owais Ghani. "And like I said, this is between the tribes and the government of Pakistan."