MIRAMSHAH: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed that it is serious about peace talks with the government.
Talking to journalists on phone from an unspecified location, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the Taliban leadership was in constant contact with all factions on the issue of ceasefire and a decision in this respect would be taken soon.
He said all Taliban factions unanimously backed the dialogue process and there would be no problem in implementing TTP’s decisions, including the issue of ceasefire, claiming the TTP practised Shariah and any decision endorsed by the chief of the Tehreek was final and obligatory for all factions to abide by.
About the killing of FC personnel, the spokesman said the explanation of the Taliban group in Mohmand Agency was significant and the action taken by it would be discussed at the TTP Shura meeting.
The spokesman termed what it called a sudden increase in ‘custodial killings and the dumping of bodies’ of militants an act of provocation, adding that such incidents must be stopped for the success of the peace process.
He said that all segments of society who loved Islam should come forward and play their role in resolving the issue which needed serious consideration. He said the government should immediately stop military operation so that the committee of negotiators did not face any obstruction.
He said the members of Taliban committee had been asked to take up the issue of ‘custodial killing and dumping of bodies’ with the government committee.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Taliban Committee and provincial chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (S), Maulana Yousaf Shah, has said that Taliban want to end the deadlock in talks. The government committee should demonstrate flexibility and resume talks, he told Dawn on phone on Tuesday. He regretted that the government committee had suspended the talks.