Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan told reporters in Swat that a meeting of the 'Shura' or 'council' of the militants had decided this morning to extend the ceasefire for an indefinite period.

The meeting was chaired by Maulana Fazlullah, he said.

Khan also said the militants had released three kidnapped security personnel as a "goodwill gesture".

The local Taliban led by Fazlullah had last week called a 10-day unilateral truce to facilitate peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah Mohammadi, a group of religious hardliners.

The TNSM is led by Maulana Sufi Mohammad, who is Fazlullah's father-in-law.

Sufi had yesterday called on the Taliban to stop all their activities in Swat and to release all prisoners. After the TNSM reached an agreement with Pakistani authorities on enforcing Sharia or Islamic laws in Swat, Mohammad and his aides have been holding talks with Fazlullah and his fighters.