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Pakistan's deal with Taliban disappoints US
In the most pointed criticism yet of Pakistan's decision to sign into law the controversial regulation enforcing Islamic law in the Swat valley, the US has described it as an infringement of human rights.
In the most pointed criticism yet of Pakistan's decision to sign into law the controversial regulation enforcing Islamic law in the Swat valley, the US has described it as an infringement of human rights.
Expressing disappointment over the ratification of the regulation by President Asif Ali Zardari, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "The (Obama) Administration believes solutions involving security in Pakistan don't include less democracy and less human rights".
He said the Swat deal "goes against both of those principles".
"We're disappointed that the (Pakistani) Parliament didn't take into account the legitimate concerns around civil and human rights," Gibbs said in response to a question on the Swat Valley peace agreement at his daily press briefing.
Zardari signed Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 on Monday, after it was approved with majority by the Parliament.
The regulation, which enforces Sharia law in the restive Swat Valley as part of a peace deal with the Taliban militants, has also received scathing criticism from the Afghan government as well as the UK and other countries.
Swat, considered to be Pakistan's Switzerland, has witnessed 18 months of bloodshed and militant crackdown on girls' schools that prompted the provincial administration to impose Islamic law to achieve peace.
