Positive talks: Taliban committee briefs govt on talks with Shoora

Govt committee conveys positive response from Taliban committee to premier.

ISLAMABAD: The government and Taliban peace committees held a joint meeting at the residence of Major (retd) Aamir‚ a member of the government negotiating team on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui and Rustam Shah Mohmand, a member of government committee attended the meeting from the government side.

From other side‚ Maulana Samiul Haq‚ Prof Ibrahim Khan and Maulana Yousuf participated. The Taliban committee briefed the meeting about their talks with Taliban Shoora and the points they had presented for the government to deliberate on.

The government committee described the report of the Taliban Committee as “encouraging”. The two sides will discuss relevant proposals and formulate a strategy in the next meeting.

The Taliban Shoora gave positive response to the points raised by the government side. They said they wanted to proceed with an open mind and desired to give good news to the nation at the earliest. The Taliban also said that they would welcome the government team anywhere‚ any time.

Meets PM

The government’s negotiating committee called on Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the PM House on Tuesday.

Besides Irfan Siddiqui, Rustam Shah Mohmand and Major (retd) Amir. The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Ch Nisar and the Balochistan CM Dr Abdul Malik.

The members briefed the PM about their meeting with Taliban negotiating committee.

Earlier Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman of JUI (F) also called on the premier. They discussed matters relating to national importance.

Aitzaz Ahsan

Separately, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan suggested that parliamentarians, members of minorities, Shia community and women should also be given representation in the committee negotiating with the Taliban.

He said the strategy of the government was not clear. He urged the government to take a clear stance in the negotiations.

Ahsan said that the Pakistan Peoples Party was not against the negotiations with Taliban despite having reservations. However, the party does not have any hope about outcome of the negotiations.