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Summary Government intermediaries have held talks with Pakistani Taliban in recent months, says a report.
The contact comes as part of exploring ways to jump-start peace negotiations, intelligence officials and a senior militant commander told AP.As reports of the talks emerged, officials said Monday that gunmen ambushed a paramilitary convoy in southwestern Baluchistan province, killing 14 soldiers.A peace deal between authorities and the group could represent the best hope of ending years of fighting that has killed thousands of security personnel and civilians.But it is unclear whether the preliminary talks will gain traction. It is also uncertain whether a deal could last.The government has cut peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban in the past, but they have largely fallen apart. The agreements have been criticized for allowing the militants to regroup and rebuild their strength to resume fighting the government and foreign troops in Afghanistan.Talk of a new peace deal could be troubling to the United States. However, Washingtons push for a peace deal with the Afghan Taliban could make it difficult to oppose an agreement in Pakistan.The Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are allies but have primarily focused their attacks on opposite sides of the border.The government delegations that held preliminary talks with the Pakistani Taliban over roughly the past six months have included former civilian and military officials and tribal elders, the intelligence officials and a senior militant commander said in recent interviews with The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
