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Soldiers withdrawn from key posts in North Waziristan: Jirga negotiating new peace deal

* Paramilitary forces take control of checkposts
* Over 50 militants killed in Wednesday’s fighting in S Waziristan

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: The army has withdrawn soldiers from key checkposts in North Waziristan and a tribal jirga is negotiating a peace deal between pro-Taliban militants and the government, official sources and military spokesman said on Saturday.

“The situation has improved and the withdrawal of troops from certain checkposts is part of the re-alignment,” Major General Waheed Arshad told Daily Times as barriers and strict checking at checkposts were abolished, according to eyewitnesses.

Paramilitary takeover: “These posts are now manned by paramilitary soldiers. Barriers to movement have also been removed and the strict checking of people at these places has stopped,” sources said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the Taliban announced a unilateral ceasefire till January 1, which was later extended to January 20.

A tribal source reported that a tribal jirga was ‘shuttling’ between the Taliban and government authorities to broker another peace deal.

“There are signs that the two sides are working on something similar to a peace deal. But we don’t know how close they are to the deal because of secret negotiations,” a tribal source close to the jirga told Daily Times on condition of anonymity.

Over 50 killed: Also on Saturday, security officials said that Pakistani troops had killed more than 50 Taliban militants on Wednesday after fighting off an attack on a military fort in South Waziristan. Chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told AFP that militants suffered “heavy casualties in the encounter” but said he had no official figures.

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