Confusion surrounds reports of govt-Taliban talks

There was utter confusion over the government’s purported peace talks with the Taliban, as both the government and the Taliban claimed to be engaged in talks with each other, while some members of both sides categorically denied that the two sides were holding any talks. A senior Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander on Tuesday said the organisation had ceased fire around the country in support of nascent peace talks with the government, but the organisation’s Mohmand Agency spokesman Sajjad Mohmand said the reports were untrue.
The Inter-Services Public Relations also came up with a denial, further strengthening the fallacy of the news, but things became unclear again after Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the government was not directly holding talks with the Taliban, however, “some messages have been sent by the Taliban, which should be reviewed by all stakeholders”. Earlier, the TTP commander said the group’s ceasefire had been in effect for the past month. But his statement adds credence to recent announcements by the Taliban that they were in peace talks with government intermediaries. However, TTP Mohmand spokesman Sajjad Mohmand rejected media reports that the TTP was holding peace talks with the government. The spokesman said that after media reports about the talks, he had contacted TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, who had rejected the claims. A spokesman of the ISPR said the army was not in any kind of negotiations with the TTP or its affiliated militant groups.
“Such reports are concocted, baseless and unfounded,” he said, adding that any contemplated negotiation or reconciliation process with militant groups had to be done by the government. But the interior minister said, “A few days ago, we received a message from the Taliban for talks and yes we also offered them. We are happy they have realised that killing innocent people is wrong and the only way forward is the path of peace.” The minister said he could not say much on the issue, adding that all stakeholders would sit together to find an amicable solution.