- As Taliban Shura contacts TTP intermediaries, expresses concerns with government, TTP interlocutor says government army on same page but not same line
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura contacted the members of the TTP peace talks committee late Tuesday night, private media outfits reported Wednesday.
According to TTP intermediary Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, TTP spokesperson Azam Tariq has expressed Taliban’s concerns regarding the situation in South Waziristan. He added that the government has been informed about these concerns.
Addressing the journalists after a ceremony in the federal capital, Prof Ibrahim said that the government and army were on the “same page but not on the same line” on the issue of peace talks with Taliban.
“It is said that government and military are on the same page with reference to peace talks. If it is said, we accept it. But some people say they are on one page but not on one line,” he said.
“Efforts have been made for extension in ceasefire but success could not be achieved because the Taliban and government are facing certain difficulties,” he underlined. He went on to saying that Taliban should stop targeting army and other security agencies while army will have to end war against Taliban because “this is a war between two brothers”.
“We have our relatives in army as well as in Taliban. Peace will prevail in the country if both sides stop targeting each other. If someone has reservations on the matter of release of prisoners then he should lodge complaint with the government rather than media. If all the stake holders take part in direct negotiations then solution to the problems can be found.”
He further said that if implementation process of Islamic clauses of the Constitution is started, Taliban will also accept the Constitution.
The TTP interlocutor held that the statement given by him with reference to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has given rise to certain misperceptions.
“I hold PM Nawaz Sharif in high esteem. The way PM is playing a vital role during talks with Taliban is highly commendable. But whenever mention is made any where about terrorism, Musharraf is also named. It is but natural then one goes emotional when such matters come and one’s tongue slips. Perhaps such thing happened with me. But it is crystal clear that the country is in a mess due to former military dictator Pervez Musharraf who put the country on the verge of destruction and gave passage to tyrannical US troops,” he added.
He said, “If Musharraf goes abroad, we will seek account from PM Nawaz Sharif at every cost.”