The Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) nominated committee will contact the shura once again in a bid to take the peace talks further. On Wednesday, Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan presided over a meeting of the government appointed committee and the TTP nominees tasked with the dialogue with the Taliban, to review the progress so far.
Talks were floundering once again after the TTP did not extend its ceasefire after April 10. Maulana Samiul Haq, member of the TTP nominated committee said after the meeting that the concerns of both sides would be addressed and a subcommittee would be formed to look into grievances.
While there have been repeated denials about the talks not being deadlocked, the TTP busy with its own infighting has not responded to the government’s goodwill gesture of releasing 19 non- combatants, with the promise of 12 more being let out. The issue of a peace zone for the militants to move freely and attend meetings, the release of non combatants held by the government, and the extension of ceasefire were to come up for review.
Maulana Samiul Haq expressed optimism over the process so far. The government had made it clear that it would expect some reciprocity from the TTP in terms of releasing high profile captives but this has not happened so far.
