Retaliatory action: ‘Custodial killings’ triggered Mohmand executions, says TTP

TTP spokesperson says Taliban are contemplating on the demand of cease-fire set forward by the government.

The spokesperson of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Shahidullah Shahid has said that the incident of Mohmand Agency took place because of the killings of Taliban in government’s custody.

In a statement, Shahid said that 23 of our colleagues were killed during the last week. In Karachi, five of our colleagues were killed and two of them were killed today. Subsequently, Mohmand Agency Taliban carried the attack.

The spokesperson said that Taliban have raised the issue with the government committee and asked them to convey Taliban’s concern to the government which on one hand is having talks and on the other hand is killing Taliban. He said that it was very likely that the ceasefire was announced in a few days but the lack of trust is spoiling the atmosphere.

Shahid said that the Taliban are contemplating on the demand of cease-fire set forward by the government and expect the leadership in Islamabad to shun the route out operations in return.

Khurasani ready for talks

The chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Mohmand Agency Umar Khalid Khurasani has said that his faction is eager to hold dialogue. According to Express News, Khorasani said the government should not harm 200 Taliban held in its custody. He said was willing to release the 15 government employees in the group’s custody in exchange for his men.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2014.