Zeal for dialogue: TTP not slamming door on peace
Group says its negotiating team is still intact, touting it as a sign of its willingness to press for peace process.
The camp police in charge, Islam Badshah, said the attack was carried out around 1am. Militants fired three rockets at tents. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Sunday that it is ready for ‘meaningful talks’ with the government hours after fighter planes targeted suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan.
The group said that its negotiating team was still intact, touting it as a sign of its willingness to press for the peace process’. At the same time, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid warned that the group is also prepared for a possible showdown with security forces if a major offensive is launched in North Waziristan.
“We have not suspended our negotiation team of political council members despite the military airstrikes and their preparations for the biggest operation in North Waziristan,” the spokesperson told The Express Tribune in a phone call from an undisclosed location.
Shahidullah Shahid also disputed the army’s statement regarding Taliban casualties following Sunday’s airstrikes, saying ‘civilians were also killed’.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2014.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said on Sunday that it is ready for ‘meaningful talks’ with the government hours after fighter planes targeted suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan.
The group said that its negotiating team was still intact, touting it as a sign of its willingness to press for the peace process’. At the same time, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid warned that the group is also prepared for a possible showdown with security forces if a major offensive is launched in North Waziristan.
“We have not suspended our negotiation team of political council members despite the military airstrikes and their preparations for the biggest operation in North Waziristan,” the spokesperson told The Express Tribune in a phone call from an undisclosed location.
Shahidullah Shahid also disputed the army’s statement regarding Taliban casualties following Sunday’s airstrikes, saying ‘civilians were also killed’.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2014.