Summary "You people are obsessed with Nawaz Sharif," Taliban leader said to a govt committee member.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Taliban have expressed satisfaction over government committee’s explanation, that no women are being held in government’s custody, in a meeting with Taliban Shura, Dunya News reported.
According to sources, in a meeting with Taliban which took place a day earlier, government committee explained that if family members of Fazlullah can be released, government has no reason to hold other women and children.
Government committee also offered further investigation if Taliban provide any evidential information. Reportedly, Taliban expressed satisfaction over government’s position.
Sources reveal that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also mentioned repeatedly during the meeting. At one point, an unnamed member of government committee reiterated that Nawaz Sharif wants political solution to the conflict; to which Taliban leader Maulvi Bashir responded by saying “you people are obsessed with Nawaz Sharif.”
Government committee also met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and debriefed him about the developments on Taliban meeting. Next meeting is expected to take place in next two to three days.
Dialogue ups and downs:
Pakistan is facing almost a decade old insurgency at the hands of Taliban factions grouped under umbrella of Tehrik-e-Taliban. The new governing parties including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) had campaigned in elections in favour of resolving the years old conflict through dialogue.
The ruling party secured a vote of confidence in favour of dialogue through a session of All Parties Conference (APC) and to act on the recommendation upon willingness from Taliban, committees to represent both government and Taliban were formed and the process continued.
However, all negotiations stalled as a number of civilians and military personnel were brutalized whose responsibility was claimed by Taliban.
Following a number of air strikes by Pakistan military, Taliban agreed to a month-long ceasefire which was later reciprocated by the government.
Government also dissolved the existing committees emphasizing the need of moving forward the negotiations to next phase by restructuring the existing government committee to hold ‘direct talks’.
