Pakistan militants make new deal

Nato is alarmed at deals between militants and Pakistan's government

Another pro-Taleban militant group in Pakistan's has signed a peace deal in the tribal region near the Afghan border, local officials say.

They say that the deal is the latest in a series of agreements orchestrated by the country's new government as it tries to end extremist violence.

A similar deal was signed last week in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Officials say the latest deal includes a pledge from militants not to target the army of government officials.

Deals with militants in NWFP and in Pakistan's tribal areas have been criticised by the US and Nato, who say that such agreements provide them with safe areas from which to attack Western troops in Afghanistan.

Collective responsibility

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says that the latest talks - in the Mohmand tribal agency - are part of ongoing negotiations between local administrations of tribal districts and the militants.

The immediate fall-out of the latest talks has been the release of several Safi tribesmen held by the local administration under the law of collective responsibility.

This law stipulates that the entire tribe is responsible for the actions of its individual members.

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The Taleban have in return released a World Health Organisation polio monitoring officer, Dr Shahid, who was kidnapped by militants in the area last week.

Local sources say that the Mohmand talks may lead to a formal, written agreement between the administration and Taleban by the end of this week or early next week.

Our correspondent says that in such an event, further prisoner swaps are expected.

Pro-Taleban militants in Mohmand Agency are reportedly holding at least one other official and over six soldiers.

On its part, the administration has been rounding up tribesmen under the collective responsibility laws from areas where attacks on security troops have taken place.

Similar talks between militants and local officials are reported to have taken place in the Darra Adamkhel tribal agency.

A local tribal elder, Fazal Manan Kodakhel, told the AP news agency that Mohmand deal enjoyed the backing of Baitullah Mehsud, the head of the umbrella Taleban movement in Pakistan.

The government is also seeking a comprehensive peace deal with Mr Mehsud, who is based mainly in the South Waziristan tribal area.

He has recently announced a ceasefire, but has also warned that it will be jeopardised if the government "continues to be slaves to the US".