Summary PM Nawaz Sharif has given open mandate to peace committee for talks with Taliban.
ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Friday gave “open mandate” to the four member peace committee for starting negotiations with Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Advisor to Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui who is coordinator of the committee said during a press conference here that the committee was expecting that Taliban Shura would meet soon and announce a negotiation team for holding peace talks with it.
“We are seriously waiting for start of a meaningful and result oriented dialogue, ”he added. The committee held its first formal 45 minute long meeting with the Prime Minister early Friday Monday. The Prime Minister set up the committee while speaking in National Assembly last Wednesday.
The committee comprises PM’s Advisor on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, Major (Retd) Aamir, renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai and Rustam Shah Mohmand, former Ambassador to Afghanistan and expert on Afghanistan affairs.
Irfan Siddiqui told reporters that the committee would now look for a response from Taliban and is ready to meet their representatives at any place which is decided.
“We do not want to waste time and want to listen to the Taliban’s stance and have them listen to ours.”
Irfan Siddiqui said the Prime Minister told the committee about the efforts made by him for holding talks with Taliban to restore peace and end terrorism which has negative impact on economy and society.
The Prime Minister said he would be available for meeting the committee any time. Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also present during the meeting.
Later, the committee held its second meeting at Prime Minister House during which the Interior Minister informed it in detail about the efforts made by the government at different stages to begin negotiations with Taliban.
The meeting then held its third meeting in the office of Advisor to Prime Minister Iran Siddiqui and took some decisions.
Siddiqui said the committee is enjoying confidence of all parties in the parliament, media and all segments of the public opinion.
To a question, he said he was expecting that the committee’s work will span over weeks and months and it would not take years.
Expressing optimism about the prospects of talks, he said outcome of talks will rest on what the Taliban say and what is their agenda.
He said the talks with Taliban would not be based on any conditions, however members of the committee understood what the Prime Minister, government and parties had been saying.
Taliban have also so far did not objected over the committee or its members, he noted.
In a written statement, the committee appealed to the government ministers, officials and Taliban to avoid making statements which have a negative effect on the negotiation process.
Irfan Siddiqui said the committee has decided that whenever it will feel the need it will seek help of influential people from different walks of life in an effort to make the negotiation process successful.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was fully onboard on the issue of formation of committee and Rustam Shah Mohmand had been nominated by it as its representative.
He told that Governor KP also talked to him on phone and assured of his full cooperation to the committee.
