- Interior minister says only “low-profile” Talibs will be freed
- Says no deadlock in talks with militant outfit
- Prof Ibrahim says JI backs Taliban demand for imposition of Sharia
The government has approved the release of 12 more Taliban prisoners as Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday stressed that the prisoners were being released in consultation with the military.
Media reports said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had approved the release of 12 more prisoners as a “confidence-building measure” to take forward the peace talks process. The “low profile Taliban” are likely to be released in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Chaudhry Nisar denied that there were differences between the government and military top brass over the release of Taliban ‘non-combatant’ prisoners.
“Only those prisoners would be freed who have not been involved in terrorist activities. The Taliban have not demanded the release of any hardened terrorist. Such issues will be discussed at a later stage,” he said.
On Friday, Taliban negotiator Professor Ibrahim was reported as saying that there was a deadlock in talks with the government because the army was “not happy” with the government’s decision to release Taliban prisoners.
Military sources have also been reported as saying that the government was seemingly pursuing an appeasement policy by ceding to Taliban’s demand of prisoners’ release while staying mum on freedom for non-combatants in terrorists’ custody.
Speaking on the issue, Nisar said the government had sought the immediate release of non-combatants. “The talks have entered the third stage, which is a difficult one,” he added.
Stressing that there was no deadlock in talks between the Taliban and government, Nisar said that it had been decided earlier that the next round of talks would take place after Sunday.
Nisar said that the investigation into the Islamabad Sabzi Mandi (vegetable market) bombing was satisfactory. However he did not disclose which group was responsible for the act.
“More than 200,000 unregistered persons are living in and around Islamabad currently. Registration of people settled in slums around Islamabad is not the solution to security risks facing the capital,” he said.
He reiterated that Baloch militant organisations were not involved in the Islamabad blast and the tracks of those responsible for the incident lead elsewhere.
JI BACKS SHARIAH DEMAND:
In a related development, Taliban negotiator Professor Ibrahim said the talks process would soon resume.
He backed the Taliban’s demand for implementation of Sharia in the country.
Welcoming the recent offer of peace by the Lashkar-e-Islam, he said that imposition of Sharia was only possible through religion and preaching, instead of violence and war.
YOUSAF SHAH HOPEFUL:
Taliban committee coordinator Yousaf Shah said the peace talks would resume today (Monday).
Speaking to a private TV channel, Shah said the first round of talks would deliberate on declaration of an indefinite ceasefire.
The 40-day truce announced by the TTP had expired on April 10.
Government committee member Rustam Shah Mohmand said the new round of talks would discuss release of Taliban prisoners. “In next few days, the timing and venue of the peace talks will be decided,” he added.
Media reports said that the government has decided not to agree to the Taliban’s demand of declaring a peace zone in South Waziristan to facilitate their movement.
CLASHES STALLED TALKS:
The peace process also suffered a setback following clashes between rival Taliban groups in South Waziristan.
The clashes between groups led by Khan Said alias Sajna and Shehryar Mehsud have left scores dead from both sides.
The fighting between the groups loyal to late Waliur Rehman and Hakeemullah Mehsud prompted senior militants and the influential Haqqani Network to intervene and broker a ceasefire deal.
The two groups are reportedly fighting for the control of Mehsud-dominated area of South Waziristan Agency.