Pakistan signs peace pact with militants in Swat

By Faris Ali

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan's government promised to "gradually" pull out troops from the northwestern valley of Swat after signing a peace agreement with Taliban militants on Wednesday.

The deal was done a day after the United States advised its ally against negotiating with militants, saying it could give them breathing space to plot attacks in Pakistan and abroad.

Authorities in North West Frontier Province also agreed to enforce sharia, Islamic law, in Swat in return for assurances that militants led by charismatic cleric Fazlullah will cease attacks, allow girls to go to school and stop carrying weapons in public.

"We hope this agreement will help bring peace in Swat," Bashir Ahmed Bilour, senior provincial minister, told reporters after signing the 15-point pact.

Ali Bakhsh, the militants' representative in the talks, said he was fully satisfied with the agreement.

Pakistan has cut peace deals in the past but critics, including western allies, have complained that these resulted in militants regrouping and intensifying cross-border attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Speaking at a congressional hearing, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte voiced the U.S. government's misgivings.

"Are we concerned about the possibility of negotiations between the government or elements of the government and these extremist groups up there ... yes," he said on Tuesday.