U.S.: No opinion on Pakistan-Taliban pact

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department won't say whether the agreement struck between the Pakistani government and Taliban militants is a good thing, a spokesman said.

"We'll look and see what the government's aims are and then, if I have more to offer on that, I'll get back to you," spokesman Gordon Duguid said Tuesday during a State Department news briefing.

A promise to enforce Shariah law in a region of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province is part of a 10-day, cease-fire deal with the Taliban, Pakistani officials said. Sources told the Dawn newspaper that a five-point draft agreement was signed after meetings between the government and Taliban negotiators.

"We are in touch with the government in Pakistan," Duguid said. "We are discussing the issue. But that's about all I have for you at the moment. We'll wait and see what their fuller explanation is for us."

When asked whether it was a good or bad development for the region, he said, "What is ... important is that we are all working together to fight terrorism and particularly to fight the -- the cross-border activities that some Taliban engage in, in attacking in Afghanistan."