North West Frontier Province Government’s Agreement with the Taliban

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Country/entity: Pakistan
Taliban
Region: Asia and Pacific
Cross-regional
Agreement name: North West Frontier Province Government’s Agreement with the Taliban
Date: 21 May 2008
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
India-Pakistan Conflict (1947 - ) and the Pakistani Taliban (2001 - )
Two distinct contexts have generated agreements.

India-Pakistan Conflict (1947 - )
The roots of the India-Pakistan Conflict lay in the partition of the British Indian Empire following the end of World War II, and the creation of the predominately Muslim Dominion of Pakistan (now Pakistan and Bangladesh) and the Union of India in 1947. Fuelled by Hindu and Muslim nationalism, the political partition spurred the largest mass migration as minorities sought reference among their communal majorities. Retaliatory violence on both sides led to the deaths of 200,000 to 500,000 people.

A few weeks following the partition, Pakistan sent tribal militias into the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, sparking the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. Two other wars broke out in 1965 and in 1991, as well as a number of skirmishes over the Siachan Glacier. The conflict has seen less casualties since the announcement of a ceasefire in 2003, despite frequent violations by both sides. Public unrest remains sporadic and there has been occasional actions by Islamic militants. In addition, despite a decrease in human rights conditions by occupying forces on both sides, abuses are still documented.

Another dimension of the conflict developed in 1997, after Pakistan announced a successful nuclear test. Since then there has been a proliferation of treaties ensuring clear lines of communication in regards to nuclear testing and accidents to deter accidental escalation.

Pakistan-Afghanistan-US Conflict (2001 - )
Since the 2000s, the Afghanistan war had a noticeable spill-over effect to Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban maintain several strongholds in the western parts of Pakistan, especially in the Northwest Tribal Region. Native Islamist guerrilla outfits also remain active in the region and in 2007 they formed the umbrella organisation known as the Pakistan Taliban until it splintered into four different groups in 2014.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Pakistan-Taliban process
Parties: Pakistani Government; Pakistani Taliban
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement outlining 16 points that guide the parameters of the Taliban and the Pakistani Government in the North West Frontier Province.

Agreement document: PK_080522_North West Frontier Province Government Agreement with Taliban.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, 7. Non-local militants will be immediately handed over to the government. Attacks on barber shops and markets visited by women should be stopped

Page 1, 9. There will be no ban on health teams administering vaccination or drops to children against diseases like polio. There will be no ban on girls’ education

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: Violence against women→Gender-based violence/VAW (general)
Page 1, 7.
Non-local militants will be immediately handed over to the government. Attacks on barber shops and markets visited by women should be stopped
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: Development→Education
Page 1, 9.
There will be no ban on health teams administering vaccination or drops to children against diseases like polio. There will be no ban on girls’ education
Development→Health (general)
Page 1, 9.
There will be no ban on health teams administering vaccination or drops to children against diseases like polio. There will be no ban on girls’ education
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE GOVERNMENT’S AGREEMENT WITH

THE TALIBAN 21 May 2008

1. Taliban of Swat will accept the writ of the provincial and central governments of Pakistan and will remain in the ambit of that

2. Shariat-e-Muhammadi will be implemented in Malakand Division 3.

No one will attack other’s religion

4. Prisoners will be released after reviewing the cases against them

5. Government machinery, law enforcement agencies, government officials, buildings and installations, police stations, policemen, police lines, army, Frontier Corps, Frontier Constabulary, bridges, roads, and electricity installations will not be attacked;

there will be a complete ban on keeping private militias, there will be no suicide attacks, there will be no blasts in personal or governmental buildings, and there will be no remote-controlled bomb blasts

6. Army withdrawal will be gradual keeping in view the security situation in the area

7. Non-local militants will be immediately handed over to the government.

Attacks on barber shops and markets visited by women should be stopped

8. Government will compensate the deserving people affected by the operation in Swat

9. There will be no ban on health teams administering vaccination or drops to children against diseases like polio.

There will be no ban on girls’ education

10. There will be complete ban on display of arms and only arms having licence would be allowed

11. Kidnapping and car lifting should be condemned and eliminated.

All centres used for training militants and use of explosives must be eliminated

12. Speeches will be allowed only on that FM radio having licence

13. Local Taliban will cooperate with government in investigations of cases against those involved in murders, dacoities and kidnapping

14. The government will take action against thieves, dacoits, kidnappers and others involved in such crimes

15. Imam Dheri will be converted into an Islamic university under the management of a committee comprising representatives of government and Taliban

16. Minister for Environment Wajid Ali Khan, Dr Shamsher Ali Khan, DIG of Malakand, and DPO of Swat from the government’s side and Muhammad Amin, Ali Bakht, Muslim Khan, Mehmood Khan and Nisar Khan from Taliban side are members of the committee to oversee implementation of the agreement.

Source:

Daily Times (Pakistani Newspaper), 22 May 2008