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Pakistan Makes a

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Deal with Taliban

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The Pakistani government has made a deal with some moderate Taliban fighters to end fighting in portions of northwestern Pakistan. In exchange for halting the insurgency in the northwestern frontier of Pakistan, the government will initiate Islamic (Sharia) Law.

The government's move is an attempt to pacify the SWAT Valley and neighboring areas in the northwestern corner of Pakistan. The government hopes that the more radical Taliban forces will comply and thus put an end to a Taliban insurgency which threatens to overthrow the Pakistani government.

Over the weekend, Pakistan's President Zardari admitted to America's CBS-TV program "60 Minutes" the Pakistani government had underestimated the Taliban's ability to wage an insurgency war against the government. The agreement itself was negotiated by the regional provincial government officials and members of the more moderate elements of the Taliban forces.

The A-O Intelligence DIgest's latest edition provides further analysis for the implications of this peace agreement. For more details on the peace deal in Pakistan, see .

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