ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan is likely to form a working group to hold talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups as part of its efforts to put an end to the vicious cycle of violence in the country.
The working group is expected to be announced after an all-party conference (APC), which is scheduled for later this month, to evolve consensus on a new proposed national security policy.
The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already announced that it is willing to negotiate with the TTP and other “reconcilable groups” for the sake of peace.
Although, the security establishment in a recent briefing to the government suggested a cautious approach on peace talks, the government is willing to give peace a chance. “Different proposals are under consideration and one of them is to form a working group for talks with the TTP,” added the official, who asked not to be named in the report because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
The proposed working group, he said, would comprise politicians and other figures who could use “their influence and good offices” to make peace talks successful. According to the draft security policy, the government would devise a mechanism to reintegrate those who either shun some “so-called jihadi organisations” or who got disengaged from such acts on any account.
Under the plan, the government is considering utilising former militants and those militants who are in custody for reaching out to the TTP. INTERNEWS
