Pakistan cuts deal with anti-American militants

Amid an assault on Pakistan's pro-Taliban and al-Qaeda strongholds, the country's military has apparently reached a deal with two powerful anti-US tribal chiefs to stay out of the battle.

Under the agreement, the pro-Taliban chiefs, Mowlavi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur will stay neutral in parts of South Waziristan controlled by Pakistani militants. They will also let the army to move unrestricted through areas in their control, giving the military additional fronts and boosting chances of a victory.

The army in return will ease patrols and bombings in areas controlled by Nazir and Bahadur, the Associated Press quoted two Pakistani intelligence officials based in the region as saying.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said there was no agreement with the two men, but vaguely commented that "there is an understanding with them that they will not interfere in this war."

US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Monday he was unaware of such an agreement, but other US officials said the strategy is not surprising.

30,000 Pakistani troops are battling an estimated 11,500 pro-Taliban militants.