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Taliban to leave Kooza Bandai if troops depart
The Swat Taliban have agreed to leave Kooza Bandai following a deal brokered with a peace jirga on Tuesday. Talking to reporters, peace jirga head Syed Inamur Rehman said security forces would also vacate the area after clearing mines and remote controlled explosives. The jirga has also requested security forces and the Taliban to cease fire for 24 hours. The agreement came a day after the Taliban released 25 Frontier Corps personnel. However, Inter Services Public Relations spokesman Major Nadeem denied any ceasefire with the Taliban, saying that the deal was between the Taliban and the local jirga. "The military has no concern with the ceasefire agreement between the Taliban and the jirga," he said. Meanwhile, the Taliban fired two rockets at the Frontier House in Kabal tehsil as security forces continued shelling local Taliban hideouts. Security forces have handed over bodies of four people killed in clashes between security forces and the Taliban in Kooza Bandai. A curfew break up to 7pm has been announced in the district, except Kabal tehsil and the Kanjo Bridge area. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-17 |
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