Taliban militants attacked an army convoy today in a north-western region covered by an increasingly fragile peace pact, killing one soldier and dealing another blow to an agreement seen in the West as a capitulation to extremists.

The Taliban today dismissed a peace deal with the Pakistani government as “worthless”.

Pakistani authorities ordered an investigation today into a video showing a man flogging a screaming woman in the country’s north-west where the government recently agreed to introduce Islamic law to end a rebellion by Taliban militants.

Militants in Pakistan’s Swat valley have extended their ceasefire indefinitely, giving more time for peace talks, a Taliban spokesman said today.

THE Taliban announced a 10-day ceasefire in Pakistan’s Swat Valley yesterday after freeing a Chinese hostage during peace talks with the government, while an abducted American threatened with imminent death by his kidnappers remained missing.

The Taliban today announced it will adhere to a 10-day ceasefire in Pakistan’s Swat Valley during peace talks with the government.

Fighter jets bombed Taliban hide-outs in Pakistan’s troubled northwest while troops pushed into militant territory on the ground, killing at least 40 insurgents in a 24-hour siege.

A suicide car bombing at a police station in north-western Pakistan killed at least six officers today - the latest in a string of attacks claimed by Taliban militants, security officials said.

A Pakistani militant spokesman has welcomed a pro-Taliban leader’s release but says the rebels will continue fighting for Islamic law in the northwest.