PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan reiterated its offer of talks with the government on Sunday, but did not specify whether it had dropped its condition that the government must withdraw its support to the United States in the ‘war against terror’.
In a statement, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid accused the government of disseminating disinformation through the ‘state-controlled media’ about the group’s stance on negotiations.
“We have given a positive response whenever delegations interested in peace process approached the TTP leadership. Whenever such delegations, including an emissary of Maulana Samiul Haq, offered peace talks, Taliban did not disappoint them.” he said. “If the government is sincere in a meaningful dialogue it should explain its position.”
The spokesman accused the government of imposing a war on the people of tribal areas. “This is a war tactic and a policy aimed at appeasing the US.”
He said the government was issuing statements about talks through the media to confuse people. “We again offer meaningful and sincere talks, but it is the government’s responsibility to create an environment conducive to negotiations.”
This is the second TTP offer for talks within a week and comes after a spate of terrorist attacks across the country, followed by military action in North Waziristan.
Many people have been killed and wounded in air strikes in the tribal area. The government claimed that militants were killed in bombing on their hideouts, but the TTP rejected the version and instead accused the government of killing detained members of the organisation.