PM’s address ‘declaration of war’ against Taliban, says TTP

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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Friday said they considered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address to the nation “declaration of war” against the Taliban and the talks with the government would now depend on its attitude.

In a statement released for the media from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the prime minister’s address to the nation and the outcome of the defence committee of the cabinet showed that the government was talking of dialogue and action against militants in the same breath.

He said it was unclear against whom the government was planning to take action, adding that the Taliban were ready for any challenge.

The TTP spokesman said Nawaz, by talking simultaneously about the peace talks and war was bringing his own downfall like Asif Ali Zardari and Asfandyar Wali Khan. He said Nawaz should stop speaking the language of “others”.

The spokesman said the TTP had also lost confidence in JI chief Munawar Hassan and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, as they had now become the part of the government.

The TTP spokesman also accepted responsibility for the attack on military convoy in Karachi, saying the Taliban launched the attack after being disappointed by the government’s attitude and statements.