ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: International pressure on the government over an agreement signed with the Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) for enforcing a religious legal system in parts of the NWFP mounted on Tuesday with Britain leading the chorus of disapproval and warning “against creating further space for violence”.

“We have concerns. … We need to be confident that they will end violence - not create space for further violence,” said a statement issued by the British High Commission.

“Previous peace deals have not provided a comprehensive and long-term solution to Swat’s problems.”

The statement called for clear, robust and monitored long-term enforceable measures on border movement to tackle cross-border militancy.

It said Swat’s problems required a comprehensive approach, bringing together security measures, development and governance.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) said it was concerned “by a situation in which extremists would have safe haven”.

Nato spokesman James Appathurai said the region was suffering very badly from extremism and the alliance would not want to see that get worse.

A human rights group expressed the fear that the Swat accord could open the door to more violence.

“The truce could legitimise the human rights abuses that have been taking place in the region as Taliban influence has increased,” Amnesty International said.

It said the government could not abandon the people of Swat and sign away their rights.

“The government is reneging on its duty to protect the rights of the people of Swat by handing them over to Taliban insurgents,” the organisation’s Asia-Pacific director Sam Zarifi said in a statement.