Peace talks: Sub-committee to be formed to look into 'complaints', says Samiul Haq

Meeting with Taliban shura expected in the next few days. They will be persuaded to reinstate the ceasefire.

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Samiul Haq said that Wednesday's joint meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had decided to formulate a sub-committee that will discuss complaints from both sides, Express News reported.

Speaking after a marathon session, Haq said that today, they were assured that there was no difference between the government and the army.

Haq said that they were also satisfied with there being no incidents despite the Taliban unanimously calling off the ceasefire. He added that they would persuade the Taliban to reinstate the ceasefire.

He added that while a meeting with the Taliban shura was expected in the next few days, they would try and persuade the Taliban to release prisoners, in exchange for their released men.

Earlier, Maulana Yousuf Shah, part of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) talks committee said that the Taliban do not want a deadlock in peace talks, Express News reported.

The government committee and the TTP committee came face-to-face on Wednesday, in a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali.

It was reported that key issues, including the release of prisoners and extension of the ceasefire, were discussed in the meeting.

Government negotiator Rustam Shah Mohmand stated that Wednesday’s meeting was extremely important as various issues were on the agenda.

TTP member Professor Ibrahim told Express News that efforts to extend the ceasefire are underway.

In Wednesday’s meeting, both committees also decided as to where their meeting with the TTP Shura will be held.