Govt reciprocates Taliban's ceasefire

Interior minister Ch Nisar said all aerial military activities will be suspended.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Following Taliban’s ceasefire move, government of Pakistan has decided to reciprocate by halting aerial military activities against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dunya News reported.
According to a statement issued by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, government has suspended all military activities against the outlawed outfit after announcing the ceasefire.
Formally announcing the ceasefire, Ch Nisar said government regards Taliban’s ceasefire as a positive development.
It is pertinent to mention here that TTP announced a ceasefire on Saturday for a month.
According to reports, Taliban commanded all subgroups to ‘respect’ the ceasefire.
Shahidullah Shahid claimed that government has responded positively to TTP’s recommendations and have assured implementation.
Talking to Dunya News, Taliban committee member Yousaf Shah confirmed the reports saying breaking of the ice is a positive development.
Reportedly, Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has telephoned Taliban committee patron Samiul Haq who is in Madina to perform religious rituals. According to the reports, Taliban and government committees will meet in next two days.
Government’s committee member Irfan Siddiqui while speaking to Dunya News said they have not received official reports of the development yet and that their source for now is the media. Commending the move, Siddiqui said that government committee welcomes the move and that this is a positive development. He termed the move as step in the right direction.
Government committee and other political figures have been urging Taliban to announce unconditional ceasefire to farther the peace talks.
Talks with Taliban were halted last month following their claiming responsibility of killing 23 rangers.

Posted By::: Muhammad usman

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Pakistan Army air strikes in Waziristan 'effective and successful': Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Thursday described the air strikes in militant-infested Waziristan as “effective and successful” and said that all such groups which are involved in terror related activities will be targeted.

When asked if the government plans a major offensive in North Waziristan, he did not comment. He added that the Prime Minister will consult with all political parties for a future strategy.

To questions about the peace talks in Afghanistan that were initiated by a former Afghan Taliban minister, Agha Jan Motasim, Aziz said that it was a good start.

About the ongoing controversy between the US and President Karzai about the Bilateral Security Agreement, he said it was a matter between Afghanistan and the US.

“Afghanistan is a sovereign country and they will have to decide what to do. We do not have any specific opinion on it,” he said.

He added that Pakistan has not proposed an extension in the presence of US forces in Afghanistan.

“Our concern is that if insurgency increases in Afghanistan it would affect us. That is why we are in favour of reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he added.

He denied that there was a change in Pakistan’s policy on Syria.

Posted by: MuhammadUsman

Dawn News

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Air force combat ready for assigned missions: PAF chief

ISLAMABAD: In a week where Pakistan Air Force has pounded targets in the tribal areas along its western border, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt on Thursday said that the military’s air advantage was maintaining combat readiness in pursuit of its assigned mission.

“The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is committed to maintaining combat readiness in pursuit of the assigned mission while ensuring judicious use of resources and preservation of assets.” 

Addressing the PAF Annual Safety Review for the year 2013 at Air Headquarters, Islamabad on Thursday, the Air Chief said that there was complete synergy among the supervisors at Air Headquarters and the field commanders.

“The entire air force is training to conduct day and night operations,” he said.

The review was presided over by the Air Chief Marshal and was attended by principal staff officers, regional commanders and supervisors from the field.

The Annual Safety Review is a routine activity during which operational activities are reviewed.

The forum is also used to carry out an in depth study of the standards of flight and ground safety in PAF.

A PAF fighter aircraft crashed in Mandi Bahauddin last month killing both the pilot and the co-pilot, while in October last year a PAF helicopter crashed in Gujranwala injuring both the pilot and co-pilot.

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