The Taliban negotiating team on Monday said it was regrettable that the government’s negotiating committee cancelled the meeting for more than four times.
Addressing a press conference after an emergency meeting of the body, Yousuf Shah, TTP committee coordinator, said they condemned the Mohmand Agency incident. He said they heard that the government has decided to conduct a military operation, adding that problems would not be solved through use of force.
He said the government should not stop the dialogue process. He said they were close to a ceasefire and the government should have met the committee.
Earlier, the government negotiators on Monday called off a scheduled round of peace talks with the TTP interlocutors after the terrorist outfit claimed to have executed 23 kidnapped soldiers.
According to sources, during the TTP committee meeting a demand was made for a joint session of the Taliban and government committees under the prime minister. Sources said Samiul Haq had contacted the Taliban leaders several times and reprimanded them, saying that they would be responsible for the consequences now.
Yousuf said that they held the meeting at Haq’s residence to discuss the situation.
“Decision of the government committee not to meet the Taliban committee is regretful,” he added.
Another committee member, Professor Ibrahim also deplored the incident, urging the government to continue the dialogue process uninterruptedly.
“We are passing through a difficult time, it’s a difficult task assigned to us…but we are doing all this for the nation and for the sake of peace,” he said.
To a question, he said the Taliban interlocutors had not so far sought clarification from the terrorists over the killing of FC soldiers, adding that the Taliban have issued some clarification to media in this regard.
“We have appealed both the sides to end violence and bloodshed,” he said.
Regarding a question about deadlock in the govt-Taliban talks, he admitted that there is a deadlock.
“Yes, of course, the deadlock prevails…it’s deplorable that they (govt committee) denied meeting with us at the last minute.”
Prof Ibrahim said his committee will not play role as a party. “Let us not be partial, the peace process will derail if we became a party in the negotiation process.”
To another question, he said decisions of the committee could not be disclosed at the initial stage.
“We are surrounded by difficulties…but still we are hopeful,” he added.
