Govt welcomes reports of ceasefire, army denies involvement
Whether militants are on the back foot or earnest in their offer of peace talks is not immediately clear, but Interior Minister Rehman Malik promptly yet cautiously welcomed the informal announcement.
The Pakistani Taliban purportedly declared a ceasefire to encourage peace talks with the government, according to the Associated Press.
“We are not attacking the Pakistan army and government installations because of the peace process,” the agency quoted a commander, reportedly close to the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud, as saying late Monday. The ceasefire, however, was not confirmed by official Taliban sources.
The army, however, sternly denied any involvement in peace talks with the militants.
Militants claim peace talks
Earlier on Monday, senior commanders in the Pakistani Taliban claimed to be holding initial peace talks with the government.
“Peace talks are continuing with the Pakistani government and army,” one senior Taliban commander told AFP by telephone, claiming to be on a 10-member negotiating committee. “We have had two rounds of such talks,” he said, adding that Taliban conditions included troops withdrawing to barracks, the military compensating losses and an exchange of prisoners.
The spokesperson for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), however, denied any peace talks. “At the moment, the chapter of peace talks is completely closed,” Taliban spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone.
Malik welcomes move
Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied formal talks but welcomed reports of a ceasefire.
“There is nothing formal regarding talks with the Taliban,” Malik said while talking to reporters.
“Taliban usually send messages to us and I also sometimes convey messages,” the interior minister said, adding he had received a message for talks from the Taliban a few days back.
Military denies involvement
A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday “strongly and categorically” refuted reports that the military was engaging in peace talks with the Taliban.
“The army is not undertaking any kind of negotiations with TTP or its affiliated militant groups,” the spokesperson said. “Such reports are concocted, baseless and unfounded.”
The spokesperson also added that any negotiations or reconciliation process with militant groups is undertaken by the government, not the military.
[With additional input from AFP and APP]
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (1)
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According to my considered view,the offer has made by TTP must be welcomed because issues must be resolved by table talk not through warfare. War is not solution of any problems.
TTP is not a freedom figures,they has been listed as a insurgents,so the precondition imposed by the interior minister is absolutely justified,should be accepted.