We are in touch with Pak govt for peace talks, claim Taliban

BY Agencies2 Nov 2013 5:41 AM IST

The Pakistani Taliban on Friday said it was in contact with the government and both sides are working on forming teams that will lead peace negotiations.

The remarks by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan came a day after prime minister Nawaz Sharif said talks with the militants ‘has started’.

‘We are in contact with the government. After initial contacts, the two sides are working on teams to lead the peace negotiations,’ a Taliban commander, who did not want to be named, told an Indian news agency.

He said the Pakistani Taliban were under pressure from different quarters, including the Afghan Taliban, to pursue peace with the government.

Officials said formal talks with the Taliban could begin as soon as within the next two weeks. Sharif had yesterday said the government ‘could not wait and see the innocent people and members of law enforcement agencies being killed in the streets of Pakistan’.

During his election campaign, Sharif had promised to negotiate with militants in the country’s northwest who have killed thousands of civilians and security forces.

The issue of talks with the Taliban had come up when Sharif met US President Barack Obama in Washington last month. Earlier in the day, Information Minister Pervez Rashid said the government, opposition and army ‘were on the same page on the issue of talks with militants’.

He said hurdles to the dialogue with the Taliban had been overcome and formal talks would begin soon. He said the decision to initiate dialogue was taken unanimously by the political leadership and the government was mandated for this purpose.The Pakistani Taliban on Friday said it was in contact with the government and both sides are working on forming teams that will lead peace negotiations.

The remarks by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan came a day after prime minister Nawaz Sharif said talks with the militants ‘has started’.

‘We are in contact with the government. After initial contacts, the two sides are working on teams to lead the peace negotiations,’ a Taliban commander, who did not want to be named, told an Indian news agency.

He said the Pakistani Taliban were under pressure from different quarters, including the Afghan Taliban, to pursue peace with the government.

Officials said formal talks with the Taliban could begin as soon as within the next two weeks. Sharif had yesterday said the government ‘could not wait and see the innocent people and members of law enforcement agencies being killed in the streets of Pakistan’.

During his election campaign, Sharif had promised to negotiate with militants in the country’s northwest who have killed thousands of civilians and security forces.

The issue of talks with the Taliban had come up when Sharif met US President Barack Obama in Washington last month. Earlier in the day, Information Minister Pervez Rashid said the government, opposition and army ‘were on the same page on the issue of talks with militants’.

He said hurdles to the dialogue with the Taliban had been overcome and formal talks would begin soon. He said the decision to initiate dialogue was taken unanimously by the political leadership and the government was mandated for this purpose.

We are in touch with Pak govt for peace talks, claim Taliban

Agencies

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