Chaudhry Nisar in a joint meeting of the government and Taliban committees in Islamabad on Saturday. PHOTO: PPI
The next batch of released prisoners will be from a list provided by the TTP, he said during a short media talk after a meeting between the two committees.
“The number would be around 30 when two sides would be meeting for the second round of their face to face talks,” he said.
Nisar added that the talks are now proceeding positively adding that the TTP should also release the prisoners they are holding as well. He said that there was no justification for the TTP to keep the high-profile prisoners in continued captivity.
“We have asked them for release of Professor Ajmal, sons of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and some foreigners and public servants,” he added.
Nisar also said the real issues/demands from both the sides, have yet to come.
“We will send our team with real demands and want the other side as well to let us know about theirs when both sides would meet next week,” Nisar said.
“The government has one point agenda of gaining peace while being within the limits of the Constitution,” he explained.
Later, TTP committee leader Maulana Samiul Haq said that the second round of talks is expected during the next two-three days.
He added that the venue and timetable of the dialogue are being sorted out.
Maulana Samiul Haq said that Saturday's meeting deliberated upon measures to promote an atmosphere of goodwill.
He said steps taken by the government are reflective of its goodwill and more such gestures will be witnessed in days to come
Earlier on Saturday, the government committee met just before their meeting with the TTP committee to discuss the release of non-combatant TTP prisoners, according to Express News.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar confirmed the release of the TTP prisoners and the government committee appreciated the interior ministry’s efforts.
COMMENTS (14)
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May we have the identity of these 'harmless, innocent' souls or will these be shrouded in the same secrecy as the names of recipients of about 400 billion rupees payment to power companies and the source and reason for receiving 1.5 billion USD. Hope the minister is right about achieving the one point agenda of peace. So far that one point sounds more like capitulation and a huge shift in the consciousness of the nation by validating and legitimizing them.
surrendering to Talibans..another Gen.Niazi ...
Will have to see if they release any prisoners.Expectations should be kept low.
"Taliban seems to negotiate with Pakistan with the same strategy Pakistan negotiates with India." Didn't know that Pakistani negotiators had any other strategy besides "Strategic Depth" strategy!!
you are releasing those who have slaughtered our soldiers and innocent citizens. Justify it, Mr. Nisar. your credibility is already on serious stakes.
V smart and mature move by govt. Big win if they secure the release of taseer and gillani.
Why this haste in releasing the Taliban without asking for something concrete in return? At the least the government should have made the release contingent on an exchange of those kidnapped by the Taliban. Now, 30 odd Taliban will be released with nothing to show for it. This is a government of simpletons and fools who lie supine before the Taliban.
Afghanistan towards peaceful transition of power and Pakistan subjugating itself to Taliban. Thanks NS and IK
Here comes the return of $1.5bn
Taliban seems to negotiate with Pakistan with the same strategy Pakistan negotiates with India. Get all concessions upfront with promises of reciprocation, which never happens. At the end of the dialogue , the mediators may themselves be taken hostage .
An informal surrender, gentlemen we have lost this war without putting up a fight. Thousands of law enforcement officers lost their lives and here we have the politicians appeasing the Taliban. Under Musharraf, Taliban were bad. He ordered operations and took difficult decisions. Under PPP, suddenly the Taliban were both good and bad, but they didn't take a stand either. Now, the PML-N is negotiating over dead blood of our fellow countrymen and all we do is sit and watch. It is sad this is what is has come to, the media is Taliban's mouthpiece and the politicians are their spokesmen. I hope Gen Raheel steps in to clean the mess, Pakistan ka Allah hi hafiz hay!
Great... Keep going - i am sure they will make you look foolish very soon!!!
did Taliban release any 'Pakistani prisoners'?