(24 Feb 2009)
Mingora, Swat District – February 24, 2009
1. Various of street scenes
Mingora, Swat District – 21 February 2009
2. Wide of mixed class of pupils in private junior school
3. Girls wearing white headscarves and school uniforms chanting lessons
4. Close of female students
5. Teacher writing on white board
6. Mid of class
7. Close of teacher
8. Close of girl studying
9. Various of children in maths class
Mingora, Swat District – February 24, 2009
10. Mid of shop selling yoghurt
11. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Surab Khan, villager, Vox Pop:
“Now, God willing, this announcement has made many people happy and, God willing, peace will come here.”
12. Mid shot of kebab stall
13. Wide of policeman on road
14. Policeman beside newspaper vendor
15. Man selling videos in market
16. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Usman Shah, student, Vox Pop:
“My name is Usman Shah. Today the situation is peaceful thanks to this permanent Taliban ceasefire. Our schools are also open again. The problems are now finished here and peace should come.”
17. Man pushing a cart
18. Woman crossing road, police
19. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Mohammed Sadiq, businessman, Vox Pop:
“We welcome those Taliban who’ve announced the permanent ceasefire. All the people are happy about this because now peace will come to the area.”
20. Mid shot of policeman in traffic
Mingora, Swat District – February 17, 2009
21. Various of radical cleric Sufi Mohammed, broker of peace deal between Swat Taliban and government, arriving for rally with supporters from his group, Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM)
Islamabad, 24 February 2009
22. Wide of Pakistan Information Minister Sherry Rehman walking out of parliament
23. Cutaway of cameraman
24. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Sherry Rehman, Information Minister:
“Look, it’s going to take some time before we can say how long these truces can be sustained.”
25. Pakistani flag flying over parliament
26. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Sherry Rehman, Information Minister:
“Every elected government and its representatives always makes dialogue the first priority.”
27. Wide exterior of parliament
STORYLINE:
Taliban militants extended a cease-fire on Tuesday in northwestern Pakistan’s Swat valley, granting more time for peace talks with the government that the US worries could create a haven for insurgents in the nuclear-armed country.
NATO and the US have voiced concern that any peace accord could effectively cede the Swat valley to militants who have defied a yearlong military operation, beheaded opponents and bombed girls’ schools.
Troops and insurgents have observed a truce since February 15, when Pakistani authorities offered to introduce Islamic law in the region if militants lay down their arms.
A hard-line cleric is negotiating on behalf of the government.
The Taliban’s cease-fire was due to expire on Wednesday, but a spokesman said insurgent leaders decided to extend it “for an indefinite period.”
Militants control much of the picturesque region of northwestern Pakistan once popular with tourists, according to residents.
Pakistani officials say the offer to introduce Islamic law there addresses long-standing demands for speedy justice that have been exploited by the Taliban.
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 100 miles (160 kilometres) from the capital, Islamabad.
A deal last year collapsed after several months.
The status of the talks and each side’s positions were not clear.
The Taliban have not clearly stated whether they will disarm or allow the schooling of female children.
Nearly 200 schools in the Swat valley have been destroyed by militants during their campaign against the state.
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Post time: Jun-18-2017