US sceptical of Pakistani truce with militants

The United States said Wednesday it will "reserve judgement" on a ceasefire agreement between the Pakistani government and Islamic militants in north-western Pakistan, but Washington noted that previous deals have failed to end violence, dpa reported.

"Does it produce a result where you have people, who were previously unreconciled to a political process, participating in that process and turning away from violence? We'll see," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Earlier deals between the Islamabad government and pro-Taliban militants have "not resulted in a diminution in the influence of those who are committed to the use of violence in those regions," McCormack said.

The United States and other NATO countries fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan worry that the ceasefire could allow the insurgents to find refuge in Pakistan for launching crossborder attacks into Afghanistan.

But Washington will wait to see if the latest agreement will bring an end to attacks by the militants. "We'll reserve judgement on these things," McCormack said.

Pakistani security forces have been battling the pro-Taliban militants since last year in the Swat Valley in the Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province adjacent to Afghanistan. Under this deal, the militants agreed to halt violence and dismantle terrorist training camps in return for the withdrawal of government forces and the release of prisoners.