ISLAMABAD: federal on Friday hailed the ceasefire announced outlawed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and recognized fact that negotiations are underway on for peaceful agreement with outlaw outfit.
On Thursday Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced ceasefire for indeterminate time after Pakistani tribal jirga visited Kabul and negotiated with his leadership.
In a statement released on On Friday, Federal Information Minister Marryum Aurangzeb said the talks with TPP accepts place in government level.
“Negotiation with started TTP in 2021 and these negotiations are ongoing place in government level”, i.e. minister said in statement and confirmed the peace talks with forbidden group.
minister also confirmed that the Afghan Taliban government acted as an intermediary between the two parties. She said that civil and military representatives are part of Pakistani side conduct of negotiations with TTP.
She said government welcomed the ceasefire announced by TTP.
information minister clarified that the negotiating committee was fully empowered. “Whatever decision in team will arrive will be approved government as well as parliament”.
It is important to note that both sides were negotiating for in last few weeks but pakistani side still remained silent.
Questions were asked about whether current government was on board with negotiation with TTP like military officials held series of meetings with militant outfit in last days in capital of Afghanistan.
The truce should have expired on May 30 but TTP extended it is now for an indefinite period while both sides attempted to negotiate a peace agreement.
Instead for ceasefire, Pakistan has reportedly released some TTP prisoners and even pardoned some who were convicted in terror cases. However, there was no official confirmation.
TTP delivered forward multiple requirements including a reversal of Confluence of Fata, monetary compensation and allowing them to keep their weapons. Pakistani side, however, wants them to lie down their weapons and also does not want to restore the status of VEIL. Questions were raised about whether Pakistani team conduct of negotiations with The TPP was empowered to discuss issues related to constitutional amendments.
