(NSI News Source Info) February 20, 2009: The US has expressed concern over a deal Pakistani authorities reached with pro-Taleban militants in the Swat valley in north-western Pakistan.
The agreement allows the imposition of Sharia law in the region. 
Pakistani military soldiers guard a street in Swat Valley February 17, 2009. Pakistan has gambled that an offer to introduce Islamic law to parts of the northwest will bring peace to the troubled Swat valley, but analysts fear any lull won't last long and appeasement will embolden the Taliban.
Richard Holbrooke, US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said he was worried it might "become a surrender".
The deal has been welcomed by local people in the region. But critics - especially in the US - see it as capitulation to the Taleban.
Mr Holbrooke, who returned this week from a tour of South Asia, told US network CNN he had discussed the issue in a telephone call with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said Mr Zardari had assured him the deal was an interim arrangement aimed at stabilising the troubled Swat region.
'Thugs and militants'
"I am concerned, and I know Secretary [of State Hillary)] Clinton is, and the president is, that this deal, which is portrayed in the press as a truce, does not turn into a surrender," Mr Holbrooke said.
"President Zardari has assured us it is not the case," he added, pointing out that the Pakistani president had described it as "an interim arrangement".
"He does not disagree that people who are running Swat now are murderers, thugs and militants and they pose a danger not only to Pakistan but to the US as well," Mr Holbrooke said.
Talks on the deal have now started between cleric Sufi Mohammad, who signed the Sharia deal with the government, and the Taleban, who are led by his son-in-law.
Critics of the deal have said it constitutes the appeasement of extremists.
The Pakistani government has denied having made any "concession" to the extremists.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who was recently in Swat, says the Taleban have already set up their own version of Islamic justice.
Tens of thousands of people have fled the former tourist haven.
More than 1,000 civilians have died in shelling by the army or from beheadings sanctioned by the Taleban. Thousands more have been displaced.
Pakistani military soldiers guard a street in Swat Valley February 17, 2009. Pakistan has gambled that an offer to introduce Islamic law to parts of the northwest will bring peace to the troubled Swat valley, but analysts fear any lull won't last long and appeasement will embolden the Taliban.
Richard Holbrooke, US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said he was worried it might "become a surrender".
The deal has been welcomed by local people in the region. But critics - especially in the US - see it as capitulation to the Taleban.
Mr Holbrooke, who returned this week from a tour of South Asia, told US network CNN he had discussed the issue in a telephone call with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said Mr Zardari had assured him the deal was an interim arrangement aimed at stabilising the troubled Swat region.
'Thugs and militants'
"I am concerned, and I know Secretary [of State Hillary)] Clinton is, and the president is, that this deal, which is portrayed in the press as a truce, does not turn into a surrender," Mr Holbrooke said.
"President Zardari has assured us it is not the case," he added, pointing out that the Pakistani president had described it as "an interim arrangement".
"He does not disagree that people who are running Swat now are murderers, thugs and militants and they pose a danger not only to Pakistan but to the US as well," Mr Holbrooke said.
Talks on the deal have now started between cleric Sufi Mohammad, who signed the Sharia deal with the government, and the Taleban, who are led by his son-in-law.
Critics of the deal have said it constitutes the appeasement of extremists.
The Pakistani government has denied having made any "concession" to the extremists.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who was recently in Swat, says the Taleban have already set up their own version of Islamic justice.
Tens of thousands of people have fled the former tourist haven.
More than 1,000 civilians have died in shelling by the army or from beheadings sanctioned by the Taleban. Thousands more have been displaced. 
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