ISLAMABAD — Taliban militants in Pakistan’s Swat valley extended a cease-fire Tuesday, strengthening a peace process that Western governments say risks granting a safe haven to extremists close to the Afghan border.
Nevertheless, it remained unclear whether the militants would agree to a government offer to impose a version of Islamic law in the northwestern region in exchange for giving up their weapons.
Islamabad has dispatched an Islamist cleric with ties to the insurgency to negotiate with militants in the valley, though neither side has given many details on how the talks are going or when a formal agreement is expected.
Troops and insurgents have observed a truce in Swat since Feb. 15 when Islamabad initiated the peace process.
Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said the cease-fire had been extended “for an indefinite period” and he expected the military to also abide by the truce.
Late Tuesday, militant commander Maulana Fazlullah told his fighters about the truce in a broadcast over an FM frequency.
“We will make this pact a success to bring peace. I want to ask all of our men not to display weapons, not to attack army vehicles and not to attack their supply lines,” he said. “Anybody who violates these orders should expect a strict action.”
The military has been abiding by the truce but has said it will not withdraw from the valley until there is lasting peace. The military did not immediately comment on the Taliban’s announcement Tuesday.
