Peace dialogue: TTP says it has received, responded to Nawaz's letter

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Taliban on Monday claimed that its central leadership has received a letter from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with respect to a peace dialogue and that the TTP has replied.

“I would not disclose contents of both letters as the contacts are at very early stage,” a leader, who is part of the Taliban's Political Commission, confirmed to The Express Tribune by phone.

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader requested anonymity as he is not allowed to speak to the media.

The TTP confirmation coincides with the All Parties Conference that is also discussing the option of talking to the Taliban.

The Prime Minister told the conference on Monday that priority should be given to dialogue.

The TTP said they are closely monitoring the APC and will release a statement following any decision made in the meeting.

“We will give a positive response if the moot makes some progress towards peace process,” he went on to say, adding that the TTP will announce a team for negotiation after the government announces its own delegation.

“We will also propose some members of different sections of the society including media persons to monitor the possible negotiation process as mediators,” the TTP leader said.

“We will suggest that the mediators must check as to which side is violating commitments,” he said.

To a question about the internal TTP differences over the issue of dialogue, he said the media is exaggerating the issue and that differences are not so serious to pose threat to the dialogue process.

The TTP leader also pointed out to some bridge building between the TTP leadership and Esmat Muawiya, the TTP Punjab head who had been reportedly removed by Hakimullah Mehsood last month after he welcomed the offer of talks by Nawaz.