Despite its stance that negotiation is only possible if the Taliban end hostilities, the government had agreed to continue informal talks with the TTP mediators, said Rustam Shah Mohmand. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PESHAWAR:
The top advisory council of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is set to agree to announce the suspension of hostilities against the government, one of the three members of the TTP negotiation committee told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity on Thursday, adding that the announcement could possibly come as soon as Friday (today).
While refusing to confirm when exactly the announcement would be made, the committee member said “Friday is an appropriate day for such good news, I think.”
He added that the declaration would come directly from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) due to the absence of Maulana Samiul Haq, a leading member of the TTP negotiation committee, and declined to reveal any further details.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Rustam Shah Mohmand, one of the four mediators appointed by the government, said the government was expecting a ‘positive response’ from the TTP within a few days over the demand to end hostilities. His statement came in the wake of an informal meeting between the government and TTP mediators on Monday.
According to Mohmand, mediators from both sides decided that the next round of talks would take place after the government received a positive response from TTP.
Despite its stance that negotiation is only possible if the Taliban end hostilities, the government had agreed to continue informal talks with the TTP mediators, he said. “This goodwill gesture on the part of the government reflects its desire for a successful conclusion to the negotiations,” he added.
The informal meeting was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the insistence of TTP mediators. Maulana Sami assured Nisar of a positive response from the TTP, but requested the government end air strikes targeting militants in North Waziristan to pave the way for an end to hostilities.
In response, the minister reiterated the government’s stance and urged the Taliban to end violence in the best interest of Pakistan and Muslims.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2014.
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