Islamabad, Feb. 24 : Pakistan has admitted that it was compelled to ink a peace deal with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) because it faltered in its bid to counter the increasing extremism in the Swat Valley.

Speaking in a seminar organised by Sustainable Policy Development Institute (SDPI) here, Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Major. General Athar Abbas, said that the authorities were not successful in curbing the rising insurgency in the region because the militants regularly obtained financial support from some nefarious sources.

"The state machinery including police, civil administration and paramilitary troops ceased to work in the area," The Nation quoted Abbas, as saying.

Abbas, while offering full support to the peace deal, said: "This effort may bear fruitful results without causing any further loss of lives."

He confirmed that the military operations in the valley have been halted inorder to restore the government's writ and establish peace.

Abbas also refuted that troops were moved from the Afghan border to the Indian side after the Mumbai attacks.

"Troops were not withdrawn from Afghan border during the deployment process on Indian border," he said.

Abbas also charged that some foreign secret agencies were lending support to the militant outfits in the Swat Valley against the Pakistan Army.

He, however, added that military operations in the region could be re-started if the situation doesn't see a positive change. (ANI)