Taleban to Withdraw from Pakistan Buner District

A grand congregation to celebrate promulgation of Shariah Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (SNAR), in Swat, Pakistan where Pakistani forces have been engaged in an operation against the Taliban. Photo by BGNES

The Taleban will withdraw from the Pakistani Buner district where their consolidation of power this week has caused deep concern in the US.

Commander Maulana Fazlullah has issued the order for fighters to pull back from Buner which is just 100 kilometers from Islamabad, a Taleban spokesman announced Friday, the BBC reported

The US has accused officials in Pakistan of abdicating to the Taleban. The Taleban have agreed a peace deal bringing Sharia law to some districts in return for ending their insurgency. The peace deal covers the six divisions of Malakand, including the troubled Swat region. The Taleban have almost full control of Swat and this week had strengthened operations in Buner.