PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday announced to extend the ceasefire with the government of Pakistan till May 30 as talks with the militant group continued in Afghanistan.
According to a local daily, the ceasefire was extended following a meeting of TTP with Pakistani delegation led by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Faiz Hameed at Kabul’s Serena Hotel this week.
In addition to the Pakistani military delegation that included officials of the Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the terror outfit also held talks with Mehsud and Malakand jirgas to reach a peace deal amid an increase in terror incidents in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.
In a statement shared with the media today, TTP spokesman Mohammad Khurasani said that the ceasefire would remain in place until May 30. “Talks are under way between the committees of the TTP and the government of Pakistan,” he said.
Khurasani went on to say that a 32-member committee of the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan and a 16-member committee from the Malakand division also held talks with the TTP on May 13 and 14.
“The committees called for a ceasefire by both sides in light of the ongoing talks. Therefore, keeping in view the demand, both sides have announced a ceasefire until May 30,” he added.
Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also confirmed the talks in Kabul, saying the Islamic Emirate played the role of a mediator. Taking to Twitter, he reported “significant progress” in the talks and also shared that a ceasefire had been agreed upon.
“The Islamic Emirate Afghanistan, in a good faith, is making efforts to take the process forward. We hope that both sides will be accommodating and show flexibility,” he added.
It may be noted here that on May 7 a grand jirga in South Waziristan formed a 35-member committee to broker talks between the army and the TTP. The army had given a deadline to the Mehsud tribe to evacuate the area so that they could conduct an operation.
On May 10, the TTP announced a five-day extension in the ceasefire reached between the Pakistan Army and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on account of Eidul Fitr. The TTP had also warned its fighters against defying the order, directing them to avoid skirmishes with security forces till further orders.
