PESHAWAR: A ray of hope for a ceasefire between the security forces and the Swat-based Taliban re-emerged on Tuesday when the NWFP government and a peace Jirga from Swat agreed to continue their efforts for another peace agreement in the insurgency-hit Swat valley.

A second round of talks between the ANP-led provincial government and representatives of the Kanju Amn Jirga was held at the Chief Minister House here on Tuesday. The Kanju Amn Jirga had to its credit the successful agreement between the security forces and the militants when the latter abandoned Kuza Bandai, paving the way for the security forces to enter the hometown of the Taliban spokesman — Muslim Khan.

However, the Amn Jirga was informed about the pre-requisites for fresh peace talks with the militants. A minister said keeping in view the previous peace deal with the Swat-based Taliban, the provincial government had put some strict conditions for honouring the agreement in case both the parties struck a fresh deal.