Summary Expresses the hope that negotiation will be successful and peace will revive in the country.
PESHAWAR (Dunya News / Web Desk) - Member of Taliban’s negotiating committee Professor Ibrahim has said that Taliban have responded positively to the government’s initiative.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Professor Ibrahim said that Taliban responded positively to four points while the fifth one was common, however they sought explanation on some matters. He said that Taliban also want to hold the talks in a sincere way.
Professor Ibrahim said that positive results were expected from the process of peace talks. He expressed the hope that unrest will end and peace will restore in the country.
Responding to a question regarding Constitution of Pakistan, Professor Ibrahim said leaders of religious parties had endorsed the 1973 Constitution but they had reservations over some clauses as the Islamic clauses of the Constitution were not implemented in a real spirit. He said implementation of Islamic Ideology Council was Constitutional obligation.
Professor Ibrahim along with Maulana Yousuf returned from North Waziristan on Monday morning.
They held meetings with TTP political shura in the tribal area and conveyed government’s demands for peace talks to the Taliban leadership.
Earlier, Taliban negotiation committee member Maulana Samiul Haq said that negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan have so far been positive and encouraging.
Talking to the media persons in Akora Khattak on Monday Maulana Samiul Haq said his committee members presented the demands of the government committee before the Taliban.
He said the Taliban have also given their demands which will be shared with the government committee on Tuesday.
Maulana Samiul Haq said nothing will be kept secret from the nation, however details cannot be made public at this stage to save the dialogue process. He said our desire is to bring an end to bloodshed and revive peace through the dialogue process.
According to AFP, Taliban insurgents have set tough terms for peace talks with the Pakistani government, demanding the release of all imprisoned fighters and the withdrawal of troops from the tribal areas.
The militants outlined their demands to the negotiators who are holding talks with the government on their behalf about ending a seven-year insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.
A TTP commander told AFP the prisoner and troops issues were a "test case" for the government to prove its sincerity.
"This is the first round of talks. The committee members will now meet the government committee and will forward our demands, they will meet us again with a reply," the commander said.
The three-member team representing the TTP returned after meeting the Taliban s 10-member council at their headquarters in the mountainous tribal district of North Waziristan over the weekend.
The negotiating team was led by Professor Ibrahim Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami religious political party and also included clerics Yousuf Shah and Maulana Abdul Haseeb.
