Pak Taliban leaders mull peace talks offer

A meeting of the Taliban ‘shura’ (council), which began today, is expected to continue for several days and make a final decision on the issue of talks. ‘The meeting began today and a final decision on the government’s offer would be taken in a few days,’ a Taliban source said.  

Sources said there seems to be a change of heart on the part of Hakimullah Mehsud, who was earlier dead against peace talks. 

They said with the changing scenario in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is likely to firm up a deal with the government, things inPakistan too will be different. 

‘There are other groups in Pakistan who are tired of this fighting and are willing to talk to the government. Mehsud feels that theTehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan might stand alone in the coming days, and hence this meeting has been called,’ a source said. 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s plans for peace talks with the Taliban and other militant groups won strong support from all political parties during a meeting held in Islamabad on Monday. 

Pakistan’s powerful military too seems to be on board with the government. 

Previous peace deals with the Taliban have quickly broken down and the militants have often been accused of using the arrangements to regroup and launch a new wave of attacks.