Pakistan, TTP agree to indefinite ceasefire as talks continue

Both sides form three-member committee to iron out differences, Sirajuddin Haqqani to facilitate dialogue

PESHAWAR:

As peace talks between Pakistani authorities and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continue, both sides have expressed reservations over certain demands put forward by the opposite party in a meeting earlier this month but have decided to extend the current ceasefire for an indefinite time period.

In order to break the stalemate, however, both sides have agreed to continue to hold the dialogue and have formed a three-member committee, with representatives from each side to iron out the differences. These talks will be moderated by Haqqani network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani.

In the peace talks, the TTP is represented by Mufti Ghofran, Commander Zarar and Omar Khalid Khorasani while the Pakistani delegation comprises senior military and intelligence officials. A second committee has also been formed by the Pakistani authorities.

The current talks between the two sides have been going on in Kabul since the start of this month and resulted in the extension of the ceasefire between the forces and the Taliban on two occasions.

Read Afghan Taliban push for Pakistan-TTP peace deal

During the meeting between Pakistan and TTP reported on May 18, the Taliban had asked the government to release its top and mid-tier commanders, stop operations in the ex-Fata region, and general amnesty and repatriation for the militants and their families.

Pakistan, in return, had asked them to stop targeting the Pakistani installations in cross-border attacks, extend the ceasefire and let the fencing of the Pak-Afghan border continue unhampered.

As a result of these talks, the ceasefire had been extended by 15 days, but there was no confirmation on the status of other demands. It was agreed that both sides would announce a ceasefire till the conclusion of the dialogue.

On May 10, the TTP had announced to extend its ceasefire announced due to Eidul Fitr till May 15 after a Jirga of Mehsud tribes said it would broker talks between Pakistan and the Taliban. The Jirga had also visited Kabul to meet the TTP chief to facilitate the dialogue.

The Afghan Taliban, who stormed to power last year in August, are facilitating the talks between the two sides, as confirmed by their spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in good faith, strives for a successful negotiation process and expects both sides to be tolerant and flexible," he tweeted on May 18 after the talks.

It may be noted here that after the government of the Taliban came to power, the attacks on Pakistani forces from across the border increased considerably, resulting in the loss of dozens of lives. In a bid to stop these attacks, Pakistan had conducted a drone strike inside Afghanistan as well.

A UN report released last week claimed that the TTP was the militant group that benefitted most from the Afghan Taliban’s ascent to power. According to the report, TTP had a strength of about 3,000 to 4,000 fighters in the neighbouring country.