MIRANSHAH: The Pakistani Taliban yesterday extended a ceasefire by six days to allow the government time to meet their demand for the release of “non-combatant” prisoners and pulling back soldiers, the militia said in a statement.
The government began negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) through intermediaries in February to end the bloody seven-year insurgency.
“We announce to extend the ceasefire until April 10 and TTP directs all Mujahedin to suspend their actions against government and security forces,” spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said.
“Once again with full responsibility and seriousness TTP awaits a positive response from the government,” he said, adding “despite the lapse of three days in ceasefire there was a mysterious silence on the government side”.
He said the umbrella militant group had only demanded the release of “non-combatant” prisoners and the establishment of a “peace zone” where security forces would not be present.
Last month the Taliban handed over a list of 300 people, including women, children, and old men. If our demand is not met, a meeting of our Shura will be convened to decide the next course of action.”
On Wednesday, the government released 19 tribesmen in South Waziristan, calling them “non-combatant Taliban prisoners”.
But Shahid denied the men had been sought by the group or were its members.
On March 26, a four-member government committee of civil servants and a former diplomat held its first meeting with TTP’s political council in North Waziristan tribal district. Both met in Islamabad for a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan amid speculation that negotiations had ended in a deadlock.
AFP
