TTP welcome APC's decision, but will wait for army's response
TTP council describes APC declaration as 'welcoming'
A file photo of Taliban fighters. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A day after an all parties conference called for initiating immediate talks with militants to end the years of bloodshed, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Friday welcomed the development but said they will await response from the powerful army.
TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said on Friday that the political ‘shura’ or council of the Taliban described the All Parties Conference's announcement to empower a tribal jirga to begin peace talks with the Taliban, the army, and all other decision makers as ‘welcoming’.
On Thursday, delegates at an all parties conference (APC), hosted by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), had declared their trust in a more expansive grand tribal jirga and tasked its members with immediately engaging all ‘concerned parties,’ including the Taliban, for the sake of peace in the country.
The APC, which was attended by as many as 30 political and religious groupings, concluded on Thursday with a five-point declaration. However, the declaration lacked both a timeframe and clearcut terms of references (ToRs) to engage the concerned parties for the peace process. The APC also did not specify the parties (forces) with whom the talks would be held.
The joint declaration was signed by leaders of all participating parties. The declaration recommended that the already established grand tribal jirga, under the leadership of the APC leaders, be further expanded by including leaders from all schools of thought. Secondly, it recommended a trust to be established for the welfare of the injured persons and families of those killed in various incidents of ‘lawlessness’ (the APC avoided using the word terrorism). The APC also asked the grand jirga to start negotiations with concerned parties under the leadership of the participating parties of the APC. It also called for taking practical measures to end lawlessness and support every effort for the implementation of rule of law in the country.
The last point in the declaration stated that the incumbent and interim governments as well as the next government and opposition would be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the APC.
A day after an all parties conference called for initiating immediate talks with militants to end the years of bloodshed, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Friday welcomed the development but said they will await response from the powerful army.
TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said on Friday that the political ‘shura’ or council of the Taliban described the All Parties Conference's announcement to empower a tribal jirga to begin peace talks with the Taliban, the army, and all other decision makers as ‘welcoming’.
On Thursday, delegates at an all parties conference (APC), hosted by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), had declared their trust in a more expansive grand tribal jirga and tasked its members with immediately engaging all ‘concerned parties,’ including the Taliban, for the sake of peace in the country.
The APC, which was attended by as many as 30 political and religious groupings, concluded on Thursday with a five-point declaration. However, the declaration lacked both a timeframe and clearcut terms of references (ToRs) to engage the concerned parties for the peace process. The APC also did not specify the parties (forces) with whom the talks would be held.
The joint declaration was signed by leaders of all participating parties. The declaration recommended that the already established grand tribal jirga, under the leadership of the APC leaders, be further expanded by including leaders from all schools of thought. Secondly, it recommended a trust to be established for the welfare of the injured persons and families of those killed in various incidents of ‘lawlessness’ (the APC avoided using the word terrorism). The APC also asked the grand jirga to start negotiations with concerned parties under the leadership of the participating parties of the APC. It also called for taking practical measures to end lawlessness and support every effort for the implementation of rule of law in the country.
The last point in the declaration stated that the incumbent and interim governments as well as the next government and opposition would be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the APC.