TTP wants govt to move from gestures to CBMs

• Release of some TTP prisoners may serve as CBM
• TTP shura satisfied on dialogue process
• Govt’s negotiators seek PM’s guidance for today’s scheduled meeting

The negotiators representing the militants have informed the government’s dialogue team that the members of the Shura of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have urged the government to move from positive gestures to confidence building measures (CBMs) and an unconditional release of some of the TTP prisoners could serve the purpose, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably.

The message was conveyed to the government committee at an informal meeting which took place at the residence of major (R) Amir, the important member of the government’s team, sources privy to the dialogue process said.

The meeting was held after Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Yousaf returned from North Waziristan after informing the Taliban political shura and receiving their response regarding the demands of the government.

“Both the teams also finalised an agenda for the formal meeting to be held between both sides today. Later, the government’s team called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and apprised him on the development of the talks-process and sought his guidance for today’s meeting,” the sources added.

“During their meeting with the TTP shura, the negotiators have said that the TTP leadership expressed a satisfaction on the talks-process and urged for restraint from both sides for success of the dialogue process. The TTP negotiators told their counterparts that the TTP leadership wanted the dialogue with an open minded approach and all issues would be discussed at length to achieve durable peace. The TTP also wanted the government to move from positive gestures to confidence building measures and the unconditional release of some of the Taliban prisoners may serve as a part of the same,” the sources added.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting between the government and TTP committees, Irfan Siddiqui, the coordinator of the government’s committee, said the response from the Taliban’s political shura over the demands of the government was satisfactory.

Maulana Samiul Haq, the TTP committee leader said the demands of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were conveyed to the government’s committee and in the first stage, attempts are being made to achieve a ceasefire between both the sides.

During a news conference on Monday, Professor Ibrahim had said the dialogue process had entered a critical phase and he had received a positive response from the TTP leadership to the government’s demands.

Later, the government’s negotiating committee called on the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House. The committee members included Irfan Siddiqui, Rustam Shah Mohmand and major (R) Amir. The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar and Baluchistan CM Dr Abdul Malik.

The members informed the PM about their meeting with Taliban negotiating committee and sought guidelines for the meeting scheduled to be held today.