Pakistan Strikes New Peace Deal with Terrorists

If the first peace deal doesn't work, try another. Anything but actually fighting the terrorists. BBC

A leading militant in Pakistan's Khyber region, Mangal Bagh, has struck a peace deal with the local administration to end nearly two weeks of fighting.

Paramilitary troops started an operation in late June against Mangal Bagh and other Islamist militants.

It came amid growing concern for security in the nearby city of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.

The US says that such peace deals allow militants to flourish.

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The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that under the terms of the Khyber agreement, the paramilitary forces will end the operation and release some activists of Mangal Bagh's Lashkar-e-Islam group.

Mangal Bagh and his men will accept the government's authority and not carry arms in Bara town, Mr Bagh's base.

Our correspondent says that normally there are no restrictions in the carrying of arms on the tribal areas along the Afghan border as tribesmen are often involved in blood feuds and need to defend themselves.