Rebel Chief Threatens End to Swat Valley Peace Deal

Sufi Muhammad Says Govt Not Keeping Promises

by Jason Ditz, March 24, 2009

Tehreek Nifaz-e Shariat-e Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Muhammad today threatened to pull his group out of the peace agreement it came to with the government last month, if officials do not start keeping their promises.

Though some locals have said the deal gave de facto control of the Swat Valley to the TNSM and assorted Taliban factions in Malakand, Muhammad says that the government has made no concrete steps toward the enforcement of Islamic law in the region. They also have not abolished certain laws they reportedly agreed to end.

At present several Swat Valley Taliban factions are holding a three day meeting in the area, discussing among other things the peace deal. It seems the agreement, which brought calm to the region but also brought objections from the US, may not endure much longer.

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