Summary This is the first direct meeting of the government committee with Taliban.
BULAND KHEL (Dunya News) - The first round of direct talks between government committee and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shura concluded here on Wednesday.
According to the sources, both sides discussed ceasefire extension and release of noncombatant prisoners.
Earlier, members of government and Taliban committees arrived in North Waziristan on Wednesday via helicopter to hold a meeting with Taliban Shura.
When the government committee members arrived at undisclosed location from North Waziristan, the member of Taliban shura asked whether the government committee had powers regarding decision making.
After that, the government committee members contacted Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who assured that the negotiation committee of the government was fully empowered. According to the sources, TTP is expected to extend ceasefire for next three months.
According to Dunya News, Tehreek-e-Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that the members of government committee were their guests and the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere.
He said that this was a first meeting of Taliban shura with the government committee and the process of negotiation would be continued.
He confirmed that both sides have reached an agreement regarding ceasefire extension and release of prisoners.
The government committee comprises Habibullah Khattak, Arbab Arif, Fawad Hassan Fawad and Rustam Shah Mohmand.
The Taliban shura members participating in the talks included Qari Shakeel, Azam Tariq, Molvi Zakir and Molvi Bashir.
This is the first direct meeting of the government committee with Taliban, aiming at carrying the dialogue process forward.
The Taliban had announced a month-long ceasefire on March 1 and the negotiators say they are asking the militants to extend it.
After the Taliban ceasefire, the government had also suspended airstrikes on the Taliban hideouts in Waziristan tribal region as a positive response.
Series of attacks including a deadly suicide attack on the judges and lawyers in Islamabad on March 3 had posed serious threats to the fragile ceasefire. The Taliban, however, had denied any involvement. A little known militant group, Ahrar-ul-Hind, had claimed responsibility for the court's attack.
The sources added that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura has assured the government committee that the ceasefire will remain in place throughout the dialogue process.
Later, three members of the government committee left for Islamabad.
