PESHAWAR: A deputy leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reportedly ousted at the weekend by a council, still favours peace talks with the Pakistani government, he told Reuters on Tuesday.
Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, who commands militants of the TTP in the tribal agency of Bajaur near the Afghan border, has reportedly been in talks with the government in Islamabad over a peace deal.
The TTP, allied with the Afghan Taliban movement fighting US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan, is entrenched in the unruly areas along the porous frontier. It has pledged to overthrow the Pakistani government after the military started operations against the TTP.
Past peace pacts with the TTP have failed to bring stability, and merely gave the umbrella group time and space to consolidate, launch fresh attacks and impose their version of Islam on segments of the population.
The TTP leadership is split over new talks with the Pakistani government, with some hardliners rejecting them. Mohammad said, however, that he has never disobeyed the council.
"Whenever I've held talks with the government of Pakistan, I've held them with the permission and advice of the central leadership of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan," Mohammad said from an undisclosed location.
"When the Taliban in Afghanistan can talk to America, then why can't we talk to the government of Pakistan?"
Pakistan last month urged leaders of the Afghan Taliban movement to enter direct peace negotiations with Kabul, a possible sign that Islamabad is stepping up support for reconciliation in neighbouring Afghanistan.
A council which reportedly included TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, ousted Mohammad, but he said he had "no information on this council, its members, or where its meeting was held."
"Except for Ehsanullah Ehsan, who contacted the media, no important Taliban leader has contacted me." Ehsanullah is the spokesman for the TTP and announced the demotion.
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@Pakistan politics: oh and um, you can't even protect your judges from militant linked defendants. After being in a group that makes exploiting holes in your protection its business, you really think that offer will make him feel better or safe?
@Pakistan politics: You overlook him saying he never disobeys the very council that demoted him for having a positive opinions for the talk. They don't authorize it, he doesn't talk. He never said he was on your side. He just said he's in favor of talks. If he didn't leave them over the demotion, he's not leaving them.
this man should not be harmed , find him, take into custody, provide protection then find Baitullah Mehsood through him and finally execute both of them
Liberal rulers still not in favour of talks sadly.
GOP can bring TTP to talk only on the position of strength in the same manner which GOI did with Mizo and Naga rebels but in our case govts of BD and Myanmar also helped by refusing to give refuge to these outfits.