The United States is skeptical of a peace deal signed earlier this month between Pakistani authorities and Islamist militants, a State Department spokesman said Wednesday. "We've seen similar kinds of agreements reached in the past that have not been successful," Tom Casey told reporters.
"I think there's a healthy degree of skepticism as to exactly how effective these kinds of agreements can be." Pakistani authorities signed a peace deal with militants in the north-western Swat Valley earlier this month and are in talks with pro-Taliban rebels in the semi-autonomous tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.
Afghan and Western officials have reacted cautiously to Islamabad's moves to reach peace deals with extremists, saying it could result in stepped up violence in Afghanistan. The agreement in the scenic Swat Valley ended months of fighting between troops and rebels loyal to a pro-Taliban commander, Maulana Fazlullah, who was campaigning for the introduction of harsh Sharia law.
Under the terms of the deal signed on May 21 the government agreed to gradually pull out troops and introduce an Islamic justice system, while the rebels said they would halt attacks and surrender arms.
Until now, the United States has withheld judgement on the deal. "Certainly, while we are open to any kind of agreement that would in fact end terrorist violence and bring those outside the political process into it," Casey said. "In the end, we want to make sure that nothing is done that would undermine the security either of Pakistan or of Afghanistan."