ISLAMABAD - Taliban militants indefinitely extended a ceasefire Tuesday in a northwestern Pakistani valley, granting more time for peace talks that the United States worries could create an insurgent haven in the nuclear-armed country.
Troops and insurgents have been observing a truce in the Swat valley since Feb. 15, when Pakistani authorities offered to introduce Islamic law in the region if militants lay down their arms. A hard-line cleric is negotiating a possible deal with the militants on behalf of the government.
The Taliban ceasefire was due to expire on Wednesday, but spokesman Muslim Khan said insurgent leaders decided to extend it "for an indefinite period."
"From our side, there will be no hostility against the government and the army, and we expect the same from them," Khan told The Associated Press.
Pakistani officials say the offer to introduce Islamic law in Swat and surrounding areas addresses long-standing demands for speedy justice that have been exploited by the Taliban, which residents say now control much of the region.
But NATO and the United States have voiced concern that any peace accord could effectively cede the valley to militants who have defied a yearlong military operation, beheaded opponents and bombed girls' schools.
Many analysts doubt the Taliban will accept the mild version of Islamic law on offer -- or that they will loosen their grip on the valley, which lies just 160 kilometres from the capital, Islamabad. A deal last year collapsed after several months.
Swat, a steep-sided valley once popular with tourists, lies close to Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, from where Taliban and al Qaeda militants launch attacks into Afghanistan.
Pakistan's pro-Western government has defended the Swat peace initiative as a chance to weaken the insurgency threatening both countries. It insists it will come down hard on militant groups who refuse to renounce violence and halt cross-border attacks in return for reconciliation.
But American officials have expressed skepticism about the willingness and ability of its security forces to regain control of Pakistan's border areas, and have ratcheted up U.S. missile strikes on al Qaeda targets in Pakistani territory.
Pakistan's army chief and foreign minister are holding talks in Washington this week as the new U.S. administration hammers out a new policy for the region.
