US seeks 'fuller explanation' from Pak on Taliban peace deal
As international concern grew over Pakistan signing a peace deal with a Taliban-linked group for enforcing Shariah law in the restive NWFP, including Swat Valley, the US has said it will seek a "fuller explanation" from Islamabad on the issue.
As international concern grew over Pakistan signing a peace deal with a Taliban-linked group for enforcing Shariah law in the restive NWFP, including Swat Valley, the US has said it will seek a "fuller explanation" from Islamabad on the issue.
"We are discussing the issue. But that's about all I have for you at the moment. We'll wait and see what their fuller explanation is for us," State Department spokesperson Gordon Duguid told reporters in response to a question on this issue.
According to the peace deal, Pakistan has agreed to enforce Islamic law in the tribal areas in North West Frontier Province as part of a peace deal with the Taliban militants, who have announced a 10-day ceasefire.
"As I understand it, Islamic law is within the constitutional framework of Pakistan. So I don't know that that is particularly an issue for anyone outside of Pakistan to discuss, certainly not from this podium," Duguid said.
In the past, when former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf entered into a peace agreement with the militants in the tribal areas of the country bordering Afghanistan, the US at a later stage was very critical of such an pact. However, the agreement failed to yield the desired results.