Pakistan-Militants Prisoners
The Pakistani government and militants are set to exchange prisoners in the restive South Waziristan tribal area on Wednesday as part of an expected peace deal.

Tribal elders had been mediating for a peace deal between the two sides and as a first step both will free each other's prisoners, they said.

Correspondents said that up-to 30 suspected militants had been airlifted from detention centers to Jandola, a main town in South Waziristan on Tuesday.

The mediators had secured verbal assurances from both sides to release prisoners, the step will pave the way for a formal peace agreement, which will end years of violence in the area.

Reports said that a formal agreement could be inked in the couple of days between the government and militant leader Baitullah Mehsood.

The army has not confirmed reports about the prisoners' exchange, saying the military is not involved in any prisoner exchange.

Army spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has been quoted as saying that locals who may have been detained on suspicion without any strong evidence are being considered for release by the local authorities but the military is not involved.

Reports said Baitullah Mehsoud would oblige the tribal elders by releasing several security personnel and government functionaries.

Militant spokesman Maulvi Omar had in the past claimed that the 'Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan' had between 80 to 90 security personnel and government officials in its custody.

About army's withdrawal from South Waziristan, spokesman Maj-Gen Abbas said that pulling out troops from the agency would be the decision of the government depending on the outcome of negotiations with tribes.

Troops withdrawal has been the major demand from the Pakistani Taliban, and the army spokesman acknowledged that in order to facilitate the return of displaced persons, the military had decided to readjust present positions and open various roads linking different villages and townships.

Pakistan army and the militants in the tribal regions had signed three peace agreements in recent years but they did work to end violence.

Hundreds of people, including security forces, have been killed in clashes in the tribal regions over the past few years after the government deployed troops there to check militants.