Pakistani Taliban suspend talks with govt.

KABUL): The Pakistani militants on Monday announced suspending negotiations with the government, saying the authorities were not serious about the peace initiative.

A spokesman for Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) spokesman told Dawn newspaper they had halted the talks because the government lacked sincerity and the required political will to end violence.

But Ehsanullah Ehsan gave no details of the snags, advising the people to stay away from gatherings of the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party.

Last month, Ehsan had demanded the release of Muslim Khan, Maulvi Omar and five other Taliban leaders. Muslim and Omar were Taliban’s main negotiators.

The fragile dialogue began earlier this month when an all-parties conference — hosted by the JUI-F and attended by mainstream political parties — mandated an 87-member tribal jirga to negotiate peace with the TTP.

On March 2, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Eng. Shaukatullah said he had ordered all political agents to cooperate with the forum of elders in its efforts for making peace with the fighters.

PAN Monitor/mud

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