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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Taliban announce ceasefire for a month

ISLAMABAD/SHABQADAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced a ceasefire asking all its affiliates to put a halt to all sorts of ‘Jihadi’ activities for a period of one month.
This was conveyed in a short statement by the group’s spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid, sent to the media.
Shahid, citing the positive developments in peace talks, said that the government has given a nod to the demands put forward by the mediation committee representing the Taliban and it was ensured that the demands will be met.
“The TTP is a responsible organisation which works through the consensus of a higher council and an Amir for decision making,” says the statement, adding that “the decision has been taken in view of the appeal made by the ulema, in honour of the representative committee and for the betterment of Islam and the country.”
Shahid announced this while asking all groups affiliated with the TTP to halt activities for a month’s time.
However, the concluding paragraph of the statement stresses that the government should take the negotiations process seriously and keep the talks away from mundane politics.
Rustam Shah Mohmand, one of the members of the TTP mediation committee, told The Express Tribune that he hoped that the period of a month’s ceasefire will be extended as well.
He warned that there might be some groups who are not in favour of peace talks, adding that “we must ignore them and continue with the peace process.”

                 Posted By :::Muhammad Usman

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