TTP will announce a team for negotiation after the government announces its own delegation. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID/FILE
“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.
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The whole nation is waiting with baited breath for your answer Hakimullah Mehsud, Ahsanullah Ahsan, Shahidullah Shahid etc etc. Come and join us aboard.....minus weapons!
Justice will not prevail in Pakistan if we keep negotiating with Killers and Murderers. Pardoning of killers will continue the violence in Pakistani Society. Pakistan Government should at least investigate for culprits involve in killing of civilians and target killers. Before peace can be enjoy by these terrorist, they should tell accounts of their activity against the citizen of Pakistan from the day they entered into a Jehadi outfit , until the time they disassociate from the group. Imran Khan's idea of truth and reconciliation commission will be a right decision for Government and TTP to participate in for Peace commission. Qisas can be applied but can only be given by people affected by incident.
@Sonya: The problem is that we are still stuck in the past. If no side shows any flexibility, a conflict may never end. Yes we have lost 40K precious lives to TTP menace but are we willing to lose 40K more if we start an operation clean up? TTP is divided in fractions,no doubt about it. We can take two routes. 1--> Announce the use of force against all the fractions including those who are pro-negotiations.This will effectively serve as a means to reunite the divided fractions as each and every fraction would know that there is no other way available for them except put up a fight. This would mean a reunited TTP Vs the armed forces and LEAs. 2--> Negotiate with those who want peace through negotiations and thus separate them out from those who want a war. This way not only those who are pro-peace would be dealt with without having to fire a bullet. Secondly, the TTP bent upon war will be weaker than the TTP in scenario 1. We all tend to get emotional at times.But more often being rational has its own perks too.
Same day service - Our politician know exactly how and where to deliver the "letter". When it comes to catching these culprits, all of our institutions are clueless. What a country!
This is a dangerous move as this is a green signal to the other non state actors that they wreak havoc in the country, butcher innocent people and can make the establishment hostage to their demands and push them to the negotiations table. Not sure what kind of people have sympathy with these TTP animals who want to push our country into dark ages.
Extremely sad to see this but still I can just hope it works out . Ideally total and complete elimination of these people is the solution !
I would still go with "Clear this filth from our tribal areas" instead of negotiating with the Evil Demons!
Over 10000 shias killed in Pakistan in the past ten years - yet there was no representation of the victims of terrorism in this meeting - instead this predominantly was a meeting of the bunch of beneficiaries (terrorists voters) and abettors of terrorism in Pakistan.