TTP wants more time to decide on ceasefire: Maulana Yousaf Shah

Coordinator of the TTP peace talks committee says hopefully a ceasefire will be agreed upon soon.

PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) asked for more time to decide on a ceasefire, coordinator of the TTP peace talks committee Maulana Yousaf Shah stated on Sunday.

While speaking to Express News, Shah said that hopefully a ceasefire will be agreed upon soon.

Talks with the TTP had made some headway after the group had agreed to cease attacks during the nascent dialogue process, a senior official familiar with the matter had revealed on February 9.

However, an attack on a police bus on February 13 that killed 13 police personnel and injured 57 others violated the informal agreement. TTP had claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it an act of revenge for the targeting of its operatives in various parts of the country by security forces.

On February 15, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S) ameer and Taliban’s chief intermediary Maulana Samiul Haq had appealed to the government and Taliban to announce a ceasefire. He made this plea while reading out a joint declaration after an Ulema  and Mashaikh Peace Convention at a Lahore hotel.

Negotiators

TTP shura – Qari Shakil Ahmed Haqqani, TTP spokesperson Azam Tariq, Maulana Amir Islam, Commander Ahmed, Anwar Gandapuri, Quetta division leader known as Pir Sahab, Maulana Abdullah, Yasir and Commander Pashtun.

TTP intermediaries – Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, Maulana Yousaf Shah and JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq.

Government committee – Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, former ISI official Major (retd) Muhammad Amir, senior journalist Rahimullah Yousufzai, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand.