Meeting with Taliban shura yielded positive results: Maulana Samiul Haq

Shura's answers to Taliban demands cannot be revealed till meeting with govt committee on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The two-day meeting between two members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) appointed committee and the Taliban shura yielded positive results, JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq told the media on Monday.

He stated that the shura answered all of the government committee's demands, adding that more details will be revealed in a subsequent meeting with the government committee on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Professor Mohammad Ibrahim and JUI-S spokesperson Maulana Yousaf Shah had gone to Miramshah on February 8 to discuss peace talks with the Taliban shura.

Shah said today that the TTP had given very positive answers but more details cannot be revealed to the media at this time. "We are very optimistic," he stated.

Maulana Samiul Haq said that the meeting with Taliban shura lasted till Monday morning, adding that it was decided that Shah was also a formal member of the Taliban committee.

Prof Ibrahim said that he has seen sincerity and willingness to make these talks a success in both, the Taliban and the government.

Speaking to the media in Peshawar, he stated that "our work is to stop those who try to sabotage talks and ensure that they are successful."

The committees

The four-member committee appointed by the government comprises Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, former ISI official Major (retd) Muhammad Amir, senior journalist Rahimullah Yousufzai as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand.

The three-member committee named by the TTP includes Jamaat-e-Islami leader Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq and Maulana Abdul Aziz.